This Water Plan sets rules for environmental flows and water allocation in the Gulf plan area: it prescribes technical performance indicators and node‑specific flow targets, classes and volumetric caps for unallocated water, and licence conditions and limits for taking or storing surface and groundwater. It affects landowners, licence holders, Indigenous reserves and State projects. The chief executive decides allocations and licence conditions (secs 23, 24, 75). Affected users bear compliance and adjustment costs and must change pumping, storage and transfer behaviour to meet volumetric, rate and flow limits (secs 72–74, 76).
This instrument sets out quantified environmental flow objectives, water allocation security objectives, and operational strategies for managing both surface water and groundwater in the plan area. Mechanically it does the following.
States performance indicators for environmental flow objectives (s 17) and water allocation security objectives for supplemented surface water (s 19). The indicators are explicit metrics such as numbers and durations of no-flow periods, proportion of no-flow days, median non-zero daily flow, mean and median annual flows, specific daily flow exceedance frequencies and multi-year daily flow volumes (s 17; sch 5).
Declares numerical environmental flow targets at named nodes in schedule 5. Schedule 5 prescribes low-flow, medium-to-high-flow and wet-season flow objectives as percentage relationships to pre-development flow patterns, and absolute counts/limits for no-flow episodes at specified nodes (sch 5, pts 1-3).
Requires that decisions about allocation or management of surface water (other than water permits) be consistent with the environmental flow objectives and water allocation security objectives (s 41).
Requires use of a prescribed assessment computer program’s simulation to test consistency with those objectives (s 42), unless impracticable in which case an alternative approved method may be used subject to a chief executive finding of equivalent accuracy.
Defines categories and reserves of unallocated water (indigenous, strategic, general) and attaches statutory limits and permitted purposes to each reserve category, including volumetric limits set in schedules (ss 28-39, 33, 35-36, 39).
Constrains when and for which purposes water infrastructure that impounds flow may be authorised (s 43), including mandatory assessments about necessity, storage capacity limits (10 ML or 250 ML caps in certain classes), and a requirement that licences tied to general reserve water in the Flinders or Gilbert Rivers include pass flow conditions (ss 43, 39A).
Current sections
Direct links to the current provisions in Water Plan (Gulf) 2007.
95
ch.4-pt.1
Environmental flow objectives
Environmental flow objectives
sec.17
Performance indicators for environmental flow objectives
sec.17 Performance indicators for environmental flow objectives
The performance indicators for the environmental flow objectives are—
for assessing periods of low flow at a node—
the number of periods of no flow of more than 1 month but less than 6 months; and
the number of periods of no flow of 6 months or more; and
the proportion of no flow days; and
median non-zero daily flow; and
for assessing periods of medium to high flow at a node—
mean annual flow; and
median annual flow; and
10% daily flow; and
1.5 year daily flow volume; and
5 year daily flow volume; and
20 year daily flow volume; and
for assessing periods of wet season flow at a node—median wet season flow.
s 17 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 7
(a) for assessing periods of low flow at a node— (i) the number of periods of no flow of more than 1 month but less than 6 months; and (ii) the number of periods of no flow of 6 months or more; and (iii) the proportion of no flow days; and (iv) median non-zero daily flow; and
(i) the number of periods of no flow of more than 1 month but less than 6 months; and
(ii) the number of periods of no flow of 6 months or more; and
(iii) the proportion of no flow days; and
(iv) median non-zero daily flow; and
(b) for assessing periods of medium to high flow at a node— (i) mean annual flow; and (ii) median annual flow; and (iii) 10% daily flow; and (iv) 1.5 year daily flow volume; and (v) 5 year daily flow volume; and (vi) 20 year daily flow volume; and
(i) mean annual flow; and
(ii) median annual flow; and
(iii) 10% daily flow; and
(iv) 1.5 year daily flow volume; and
(v) 5 year daily flow volume; and
(vi) 20 year daily flow volume; and
(c) for assessing periods of wet season flow at a node—median wet season flow.
(i) the number of periods of no flow of more than 1 month but less than 6 months; and
(ii) the number of periods of no flow of 6 months or more; and
(iii) the proportion of no flow days; and
(iv) median non-zero daily flow; and
(i) mean annual flow; and
(ii) median annual flow; and
(iii) 10% daily flow; and
(iv) 1.5 year daily flow volume; and
(v) 5 year daily flow volume; and
(vi) 20 year daily flow volume; and
sec.18
Environmental flow objectives
sec.18 Environmental flow objectives
The environmental flow objectives for surface water in the plan area are stated in schedule 5 .
s 18 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 8
ch.4-pt.2
Water allocation security objectives
Water allocation security objectives
sec.19
Performance indicators for water allocation security objectives
sec.19 Performance indicators for water allocation security objectives
The performance indicators for the water allocation security objectives for taking supplemented surface water are—
annual supplemented water sharing index; and
monthly supplemented water sharing index.
(a) annual supplemented water sharing index; and
(b) monthly supplemented water sharing index.
sec.20
Water allocation security objectives
sec.20 Water allocation security objectives
The water allocation security objectives for supplemented surface water in the Upper Leichhardt River subcatchment area are stated in schedule 6 .
ch.5-pt.1
Strategies for both surface water and groundwater
Strategies for both surface water and groundwater
ch.5-pt.1-div.1
Preliminary
Preliminary
sec.21
Application of pt 1
sec.21 Application of pt 1
This part applies to both surface water and groundwater.
sec.22
Section sec.22
s 22 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 114
sec.23
Matters to be considered for environmental management rules
sec.23 Matters to be considered for environmental management rules
In deciding the environmental management rules to be included in the resource operations plan, the chief executive must consider—
the streamflows required to maintain the following—
the longitudinal connectivity of low flow habitats throughout river systems in the plan area;
the wetted habitats at riffles and other streambed features;
the natural seasonality of flows and zero flows;
the replenishment of refuge pools that enable movement of instream biota;
groundwater flows;
the contributions from aquifers to the flow of water in watercourses;
the lateral connectivity between rivers in the plan area and their adjacent riverine environments, including floodplains; and
the impact the taking of, or proposed taking of, or interfering with, water may have on the following—
water quality;
the natural movement of sediment;
the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake;
the inundation of habitats;
the movement of fish and other aquatic animals;
the recreation and aesthetic values of the plan area;
cultural values including, for example, cultural values of local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities.
Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.
(sec.23-ssec.1) In deciding the environmental management rules to be included in the resource operations plan, the chief executive must consider— the streamflows required to maintain the following— the longitudinal connectivity of low flow habitats throughout river systems in the plan area; the wetted habitats at riffles and other streambed features; the natural seasonality of flows and zero flows; the replenishment of refuge pools that enable movement of instream biota; groundwater flows; the contributions from aquifers to the flow of water in watercourses; the lateral connectivity between rivers in the plan area and their adjacent riverine environments, including floodplains; and the impact the taking of, or proposed taking of, or interfering with, water may have on the following— water quality; the natural movement of sediment; the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake; the inundation of habitats; the movement of fish and other aquatic animals; the recreation and aesthetic values of the plan area; cultural values including, for example, cultural values of local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities.
(sec.23-ssec.2) Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.
(a) the streamflows required to maintain the following— (i) the longitudinal connectivity of low flow habitats throughout river systems in the plan area; (ii) the wetted habitats at riffles and other streambed features; (iii) the natural seasonality of flows and zero flows; (iv) the replenishment of refuge pools that enable movement of instream biota; (v) groundwater flows; (vi) the contributions from aquifers to the flow of water in watercourses; (vii) the lateral connectivity between rivers in the plan area and their adjacent riverine environments, including floodplains; and
(i) the longitudinal connectivity of low flow habitats throughout river systems in the plan area;
(ii) the wetted habitats at riffles and other streambed features;
(iii) the natural seasonality of flows and zero flows;
(iv) the replenishment of refuge pools that enable movement of instream biota;
(v) groundwater flows;
(vi) the contributions from aquifers to the flow of water in watercourses;
(vii) the lateral connectivity between rivers in the plan area and their adjacent riverine environments, including floodplains; and
(b) the impact the taking of, or proposed taking of, or interfering with, water may have on the following— (i) water quality; (ii) the natural movement of sediment; (iii) the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake; (iv) the inundation of habitats; (v) the movement of fish and other aquatic animals; (vi) the recreation and aesthetic values of the plan area; (vii) cultural values including, for example, cultural values of local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities.
(i) water quality;
(ii) the natural movement of sediment;
(iii) the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake;
(iv) the inundation of habitats;
(v) the movement of fish and other aquatic animals;
(vi) the recreation and aesthetic values of the plan area;
(vii) cultural values including, for example, cultural values of local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities.
(i) the longitudinal connectivity of low flow habitats throughout river systems in the plan area;
(ii) the wetted habitats at riffles and other streambed features;
(iii) the natural seasonality of flows and zero flows;
(iv) the replenishment of refuge pools that enable movement of instream biota;
(v) groundwater flows;
(vi) the contributions from aquifers to the flow of water in watercourses;
(vii) the lateral connectivity between rivers in the plan area and their adjacent riverine environments, including floodplains; and
(i) water quality;
(ii) the natural movement of sediment;
(iii) the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake;
(iv) the inundation of habitats;
(v) the movement of fish and other aquatic animals;
(vi) the recreation and aesthetic values of the plan area;
(vii) cultural values including, for example, cultural values of local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities.
sec.24
Matters to be considered for water sharing rules
sec.24 Matters to be considered for water sharing rules
In deciding the water sharing rules to be included in the resource operations plan for authorisations to take water in a part of the plan area, the chief executive must consider—
for rules relating to supplemented surface water—
any existing water sharing rules; and
the extent to which any existing water supply arrangements are linked to the natural occurrence of streamflows; and
the frequency, duration, magnitude and timing of limited water availability; and
for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water or groundwater—
any existing water sharing arrangements; and
the local availability of water that may be taken from streamflows, waterholes, bed sands or aquifers; and
the conditions for taking water decided under section 75 ; and
the daily volumetric limits decided under section 73 ; and
the annual volumetric limits decided under section 74 or 87 ; and
the impact on authorisations to take water in the plan area; and
for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water in the bed sands of the Gilbert River between AMTD 317km and AMTD 263km—the water that is available for taking from the bed sands during periods when water ceases to flow over the bed sands.
Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.
s 24 amd 2014 SL No. 142 s 115
(sec.24-ssec.1) In deciding the water sharing rules to be included in the resource operations plan for authorisations to take water in a part of the plan area, the chief executive must consider— for rules relating to supplemented surface water— any existing water sharing rules; and the extent to which any existing water supply arrangements are linked to the natural occurrence of streamflows; and the frequency, duration, magnitude and timing of limited water availability; and for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water or groundwater— any existing water sharing arrangements; and the local availability of water that may be taken from streamflows, waterholes, bed sands or aquifers; and the conditions for taking water decided under section 75 ; and the daily volumetric limits decided under section 73 ; and the annual volumetric limits decided under section 74 or 87 ; and the impact on authorisations to take water in the plan area; and for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water in the bed sands of the Gilbert River between AMTD 317km and AMTD 263km—the water that is available for taking from the bed sands during periods when water ceases to flow over the bed sands.
(sec.24-ssec.2) Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.
(a) for rules relating to supplemented surface water— (i) any existing water sharing rules; and (ii) the extent to which any existing water supply arrangements are linked to the natural occurrence of streamflows; and (iii) the frequency, duration, magnitude and timing of limited water availability; and
(i) any existing water sharing rules; and
(ii) the extent to which any existing water supply arrangements are linked to the natural occurrence of streamflows; and
(iii) the frequency, duration, magnitude and timing of limited water availability; and
(b) for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water or groundwater— (i) any existing water sharing arrangements; and (ii) the local availability of water that may be taken from streamflows, waterholes, bed sands or aquifers; and (iii) the conditions for taking water decided under section 75 ; and (iv) the daily volumetric limits decided under section 73 ; and (v) the annual volumetric limits decided under section 74 or 87 ; and (vi) the impact on authorisations to take water in the plan area; and (vii) for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water in the bed sands of the Gilbert River between AMTD 317km and AMTD 263km—the water that is available for taking from the bed sands during periods when water ceases to flow over the bed sands.
(i) any existing water sharing arrangements; and
(ii) the local availability of water that may be taken from streamflows, waterholes, bed sands or aquifers; and
(iii) the conditions for taking water decided under section 75 ; and
(iv) the daily volumetric limits decided under section 73 ; and
(v) the annual volumetric limits decided under section 74 or 87 ; and
(vi) the impact on authorisations to take water in the plan area; and
(vii) for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water in the bed sands of the Gilbert River between AMTD 317km and AMTD 263km—the water that is available for taking from the bed sands during periods when water ceases to flow over the bed sands.
(i) any existing water sharing rules; and
(ii) the extent to which any existing water supply arrangements are linked to the natural occurrence of streamflows; and
(iii) the frequency, duration, magnitude and timing of limited water availability; and
(i) any existing water sharing arrangements; and
(ii) the local availability of water that may be taken from streamflows, waterholes, bed sands or aquifers; and
(iii) the conditions for taking water decided under section 75 ; and
(iv) the daily volumetric limits decided under section 73 ; and
(v) the annual volumetric limits decided under section 74 or 87 ; and
(vi) the impact on authorisations to take water in the plan area; and
(vii) for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water in the bed sands of the Gilbert River between AMTD 317km and AMTD 263km—the water that is available for taking from the bed sands during periods when water ceases to flow over the bed sands.
ch.5-pt.1-div.2
Unallocated water
Unallocated water
sec.25
Section sec.25
s 25 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 116
sec.26
Section sec.26
s 26 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 116
sec.27
Projects that may be considered to be of regional significance
sec.27 Projects that may be considered to be of regional significance
The chief executive may consider a particular project to be a project of regional significance for the plan area only if the chief executive considers the project is significant for a region in the plan area, having regard to the following—
the outcomes under chapter 3 ;
the economic or social impact the project will have on the region;
the public interest and the welfare of people in the region;
any other relevant consideration.
(a) the outcomes under chapter 3 ;
(b) the economic or social impact the project will have on the region;
(c) the public interest and the welfare of people in the region;
(d) any other relevant consideration.
sec.28
Particular unallocated water held as indigenous, strategic or general reserve
sec.28 Particular unallocated water held as indigenous, strategic or general reserve
Unallocated water in the plan area is held as—
for the Morning Inlet, Settlement Creek and Staaten River catchment areas—an indigenous reserve or a strategic reserve; or
for the Flinders River catchment, Gilbert River catchment and Gregory River subcatchment areas—an indigenous reserve, a strategic reserve or a general reserve; or
for any other area—a strategic reserve or a general reserve.
s 28 sub 2011 Act No. 40 s 102 ; 2015 SL No. 99 s 10
(a) for the Morning Inlet, Settlement Creek and Staaten River catchment areas—an indigenous reserve or a strategic reserve; or
(b) for the Flinders River catchment, Gilbert River catchment and Gregory River subcatchment areas—an indigenous reserve, a strategic reserve or a general reserve; or
(c) for any other area—a strategic reserve or a general reserve.
sec.29
Granting unallocated water
sec.29 Granting unallocated water
The process for granting unallocated water is a process stated in the Water Regulation 2016 , part 2 , division 2 , subdivision 2 .
s 29 sub 2015 SL No. 99 s 10
amd 2016 SL No. 216 s 146 sch 20
sec.30
Preparing and implementing process for granting unallocated water generally
sec.30 Preparing and implementing process for granting unallocated water generally
In preparing and implementing the process, the chief executive must consider the following—
the purpose for which the water is required;
the efficiency of existing and proposed water use practices;
the extent to which water in the plan area is being taken under authorisations;
the availability of an alternative water supply for the purpose for which the water is required;
the impact the proposed taking of, or interfering with, the water may have on existing water users in the plan area;
whether the proposed taking or interfering is likely to have a direct adverse effect on groundwater flows;
the matters mentioned in section 23 (1) (a) and (b) .
Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.
s 30 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 11
(sec.30-ssec.1) In preparing and implementing the process, the chief executive must consider the following— the purpose for which the water is required; the efficiency of existing and proposed water use practices; the extent to which water in the plan area is being taken under authorisations; the availability of an alternative water supply for the purpose for which the water is required; the impact the proposed taking of, or interfering with, the water may have on existing water users in the plan area; whether the proposed taking or interfering is likely to have a direct adverse effect on groundwater flows; the matters mentioned in section 23 (1) (a) and (b) .
(sec.30-ssec.2) Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.
(a) the purpose for which the water is required;
(b) the efficiency of existing and proposed water use practices;
(c) the extent to which water in the plan area is being taken under authorisations;
(d) the availability of an alternative water supply for the purpose for which the water is required;
(e) the impact the proposed taking of, or interfering with, the water may have on existing water users in the plan area;
(f) whether the proposed taking or interfering is likely to have a direct adverse effect on groundwater flows;
(g) the matters mentioned in section 23 (1) (a) and (b) .
sec.31
Section sec.31
s 31 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 117
sec.32
Purpose for which indigenous unallocated water may be granted
sec.32 Purpose for which indigenous unallocated water may be granted
Unallocated water held as an indigenous reserve ( indigenous unallocated water ) may be granted only for helping indigenous communities in the Cape York Peninsula Region area, Flinders River catchment area, Gilbert River catchment area, Morning Inlet catchment area, Settlement Creek catchment area, Staaten River catchment area or the Gregory River subcatchment area to achieve their economic and social aspirations.
s 32 amd 2011 Act No. 40 s 103 ; 2014 Act No. 40 s 154 sch 1 pt 3 ; 2015 SL No. 99 s 12
sec.33
Volumetric limits for indigenous unallocated water
sec.33 Volumetric limits for indigenous unallocated water
The total of the annual volumetric limits for all water entitlements to take indigenous unallocated water from each area mentioned in schedule 6A , column 1, is stated opposite the area in column 2 of the schedule.
s 33 amd 2011 Act No. 40 s 104 ; 2015 SL No. 99 s 13
sec.34
When strategic unallocated water may be granted
sec.34 When strategic unallocated water may be granted
Unallocated water held as a strategic reserve ( strategic unallocated water ) may be granted only if it is to be taken—
from Lake Mary Kathleen, for any purpose; or
for a State purpose.
s 34 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 14
(a) from Lake Mary Kathleen, for any purpose; or
(b) for a State purpose.
sec.35
Volumetric limits for strategic unallocated water in Lake Mary Kathleen
sec.35 Volumetric limits for strategic unallocated water in Lake Mary Kathleen
The total of the annual volumetric limits for all water entitlements to take strategic unallocated water from Lake Mary Kathleen is stated in schedule 7 , part 1 , column 2.
s 35 sub 2015 SL No. 99 s 15
sec.36
Volumetric limits for strategic unallocated water granted for State purpose
sec.36 Volumetric limits for strategic unallocated water granted for State purpose
The total of the annual volumetric limits for all water entitlements to take strategic unallocated water for a State purpose in a catchment area or subcatchment area mentioned in schedule 7 , part 2 , column 1, is stated opposite the area in schedule 7 , part 2 , column 2.
s 36 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 16
sec.37
Period for which strategic unallocated water is granted for particular State purpose
sec.37 Period for which strategic unallocated water is granted for particular State purpose
This section applies to water entitlements to take strategic unallocated water for either of the following State purposes—
a coordinated project;
a project of regional significance.
The volume of water is granted only for the life of the project and on conclusion of the project the volume of water returns to the strategic reserve.
s 37 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 17
(sec.37-ssec.1) This section applies to water entitlements to take strategic unallocated water for either of the following State purposes— a coordinated project; a project of regional significance.
(sec.37-ssec.2) The volume of water is granted only for the life of the project and on conclusion of the project the volume of water returns to the strategic reserve.
(a) a coordinated project;
(b) a project of regional significance.
sec.38
Purpose for which general unallocated water may be granted
sec.38 Purpose for which general unallocated water may be granted
Unallocated water held as a general reserve ( general unallocated water ) may be granted for any purpose.
sec.39
Volumetric limits for general unallocated water
sec.39 Volumetric limits for general unallocated water
The total of the annual volumetric limits for all water entitlements to take general unallocated water from a catchment area or subcatchment area mentioned in schedule 8 , column 1, is stated opposite the area in schedule 8 , column 2.
s 39 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 18
sec.39A
Condition for general unallocated water in Flinders and Gilbert River catchments
sec.39A Condition for general unallocated water in Flinders and Gilbert River catchments
Water entitlements granted from the general reserve in the Flinders River and Gilbert River catchment areas must include—
at least 1 pass flow condition; and
a condition stating the transfer of water under the entitlement must be done in accordance with the group B water transfer rules.
s 39A ins 2015 SL No. 99 s 19
(a) at least 1 pass flow condition; and
(b) a condition stating the transfer of water under the entitlement must be done in accordance with the group B water transfer rules.
ch.5-pt.2
Additional strategies for surface water
Additional strategies for surface water
ch.5-pt.2-div.1
Preliminary
Preliminary
sec.40
Application of pt 2
sec.40 Application of pt 2
The strategies stated in this part apply to surface water in addition to the strategies stated in part 1 .
sec.41
Decisions consistent with objectives
sec.41 Decisions consistent with objectives
Decisions about the allocation or management of surface water, other than a decision about a water permit, must be consistent with—
the environmental flow objectives; and
the water allocation security objectives.
(a) the environmental flow objectives; and
(b) the water allocation security objectives.
sec.42
Assessing impact of decisions
sec.42 Assessing impact of decisions
The prescribed assessment computer program’s simulation for the simulation period is used to assess consistency with the environmental flow objectives and the water allocation security objectives.
If it is not practicable to use the prescribed assessment computer program, another assessment method approved by the chief executive may be used.
The chief executive may approve an assessment method for subsection (2) only if the chief executive is satisfied the method will assess consistency with the objectives at least as accurately as the prescribed assessment computer program.
s 42 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 20
(sec.42-ssec.1) The prescribed assessment computer program’s simulation for the simulation period is used to assess consistency with the environmental flow objectives and the water allocation security objectives.
(sec.42-ssec.2) If it is not practicable to use the prescribed assessment computer program, another assessment method approved by the chief executive may be used.
(sec.42-ssec.3) The chief executive may approve an assessment method for subsection (2) only if the chief executive is satisfied the method will assess consistency with the objectives at least as accurately as the prescribed assessment computer program.
sec.43
Limitations on interference with water
sec.43 Limitations on interference with water
This section applies to an application, made under section 206 of the Act , for a water licence to interfere with, or increase the interference with, surface water in a watercourse, waterhole, lake or spring by impounding the flow of the water.
The application may be granted only if the purpose of the proposed interference or increase in interference is—
to store water for stock or domestic purposes; or
to provide a pumping pool to enable water to be taken under an authorisation; or
to store water for a purpose not related to the taking of water under a water entitlement; or
community landscaping or retaining water for flood mitigation purposes
related to the granting of unallocated water under the process stated in the Water Regulation 2016 , part 2 , division 2 , subdivision 2 ; or
to provide improved security for town water supplies.
Also, the application may be granted only if—
the chief executive is satisfied the proposed interference or increase in interference is necessary for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) ; and
the proposed storage capacity is no greater than is necessary for the purpose of the proposed interference or increase in interference having regard to—
the impact the proposed interference or increase in interference may have on the following—
instream water levels;
the natural movement of sediment;
the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake;
riparian vegetation;
habitat for native plants and animals;
movement of fish and other aquatic species;
cultural and ecological values of the watercourse, waterhole, lake or spring; and
for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (a) —
existing water supplies for the property to which the application relates, including existing weirs, groundwater and dams taking overland flow water; and
the availability of water at the proposed storage site; and
for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (e) —
the chief executive is satisfied that approving the application would not adversely impact other water users or the outcomes of the plan; and
there is a demonstrated need for an increased reliability of the water supply.
However, the application must not be granted if the application is for a proposed interference or increase in interference for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (b) or (c) and the proposed storage capacity is greater than—
for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (b) —10ML; or
for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (c) —250ML.
If the application is for a Flinders River or Gilbert River catchment area general reserve related water licence and the application is granted, the water licence must include at least 1 pass flow condition.
In this section—
Flinders River or Gilbert River catchment area general reserve related water licence means a water licence to interfere with water that is related to a water entitlement to take unallocated water from the general reserve in the Flinders River or Gilbert River catchment areas.
pumping pool means a pool of water near a pump in a watercourse, lake or spring that ensures the water level of the watercourse, lake or spring is appropriate to enable the pump to function properly.
s 43 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 21 ; 2016 SL No. 216 s 146 sch 20
(sec.43-ssec.1) This section applies to an application, made under section 206 of the Act , for a water licence to interfere with, or increase the interference with, surface water in a watercourse, waterhole, lake or spring by impounding the flow of the water.
(sec.43-ssec.2) The application may be granted only if the purpose of the proposed interference or increase in interference is— to store water for stock or domestic purposes; or to provide a pumping pool to enable water to be taken under an authorisation; or to store water for a purpose not related to the taking of water under a water entitlement; or community landscaping or retaining water for flood mitigation purposes related to the granting of unallocated water under the process stated in the Water Regulation 2016 , part 2 , division 2 , subdivision 2 ; or to provide improved security for town water supplies.
(sec.43-ssec.3) Also, the application may be granted only if— the chief executive is satisfied the proposed interference or increase in interference is necessary for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) ; and the proposed storage capacity is no greater than is necessary for the purpose of the proposed interference or increase in interference having regard to— the impact the proposed interference or increase in interference may have on the following— instream water levels; the natural movement of sediment; the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake; riparian vegetation; habitat for native plants and animals; movement of fish and other aquatic species; cultural and ecological values of the watercourse, waterhole, lake or spring; and for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (a) — existing water supplies for the property to which the application relates, including existing weirs, groundwater and dams taking overland flow water; and the availability of water at the proposed storage site; and for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (e) — the chief executive is satisfied that approving the application would not adversely impact other water users or the outcomes of the plan; and there is a demonstrated need for an increased reliability of the water supply.
(sec.43-ssec.4) However, the application must not be granted if the application is for a proposed interference or increase in interference for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (b) or (c) and the proposed storage capacity is greater than— for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (b) —10ML; or for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (c) —250ML.
(sec.43-ssec.5) If the application is for a Flinders River or Gilbert River catchment area general reserve related water licence and the application is granted, the water licence must include at least 1 pass flow condition.
(sec.43-ssec.6) In this section— Flinders River or Gilbert River catchment area general reserve related water licence means a water licence to interfere with water that is related to a water entitlement to take unallocated water from the general reserve in the Flinders River or Gilbert River catchment areas. pumping pool means a pool of water near a pump in a watercourse, lake or spring that ensures the water level of the watercourse, lake or spring is appropriate to enable the pump to function properly.
(a) to store water for stock or domestic purposes; or
(b) to provide a pumping pool to enable water to be taken under an authorisation; or
(c) to store water for a purpose not related to the taking of water under a water entitlement; or Examples of a purpose for subsection (2) (c) — community landscaping or retaining water for flood mitigation purposes
(d) related to the granting of unallocated water under the process stated in the Water Regulation 2016 , part 2 , division 2 , subdivision 2 ; or
(e) to provide improved security for town water supplies.
(a) the chief executive is satisfied the proposed interference or increase in interference is necessary for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) ; and
(b) the proposed storage capacity is no greater than is necessary for the purpose of the proposed interference or increase in interference having regard to— (i) the impact the proposed interference or increase in interference may have on the following— (A) instream water levels; (B) the natural movement of sediment; (C) the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake; (D) riparian vegetation; (E) habitat for native plants and animals; (F) movement of fish and other aquatic species; (G) cultural and ecological values of the watercourse, waterhole, lake or spring; and (ii) for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (a) — (A) existing water supplies for the property to which the application relates, including existing weirs, groundwater and dams taking overland flow water; and (B) the availability of water at the proposed storage site; and
(i) the impact the proposed interference or increase in interference may have on the following— (A) instream water levels; (B) the natural movement of sediment; (C) the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake; (D) riparian vegetation; (E) habitat for native plants and animals; (F) movement of fish and other aquatic species; (G) cultural and ecological values of the watercourse, waterhole, lake or spring; and
(A) instream water levels;
(B) the natural movement of sediment;
(C) the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake;
(D) riparian vegetation;
(E) habitat for native plants and animals;
(F) movement of fish and other aquatic species;
(G) cultural and ecological values of the watercourse, waterhole, lake or spring; and
(ii) for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (a) — (A) existing water supplies for the property to which the application relates, including existing weirs, groundwater and dams taking overland flow water; and (B) the availability of water at the proposed storage site; and
(A) existing water supplies for the property to which the application relates, including existing weirs, groundwater and dams taking overland flow water; and
(B) the availability of water at the proposed storage site; and
(c) for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (e) — (i) the chief executive is satisfied that approving the application would not adversely impact other water users or the outcomes of the plan; and (ii) there is a demonstrated need for an increased reliability of the water supply.
(i) the chief executive is satisfied that approving the application would not adversely impact other water users or the outcomes of the plan; and
(ii) there is a demonstrated need for an increased reliability of the water supply.
(i) the impact the proposed interference or increase in interference may have on the following— (A) instream water levels; (B) the natural movement of sediment; (C) the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake; (D) riparian vegetation; (E) habitat for native plants and animals; (F) movement of fish and other aquatic species; (G) cultural and ecological values of the watercourse, waterhole, lake or spring; and
(A) instream water levels;
(B) the natural movement of sediment;
(C) the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake;
(D) riparian vegetation;
(E) habitat for native plants and animals;
(F) movement of fish and other aquatic species;
(G) cultural and ecological values of the watercourse, waterhole, lake or spring; and
(ii) for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (a) — (A) existing water supplies for the property to which the application relates, including existing weirs, groundwater and dams taking overland flow water; and (B) the availability of water at the proposed storage site; and
(A) existing water supplies for the property to which the application relates, including existing weirs, groundwater and dams taking overland flow water; and
(B) the availability of water at the proposed storage site; and
(A) instream water levels;
(B) the natural movement of sediment;
(C) the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake;
(D) riparian vegetation;
(E) habitat for native plants and animals;
(F) movement of fish and other aquatic species;
(G) cultural and ecological values of the watercourse, waterhole, lake or spring; and
(A) existing water supplies for the property to which the application relates, including existing weirs, groundwater and dams taking overland flow water; and
(B) the availability of water at the proposed storage site; and
(i) the chief executive is satisfied that approving the application would not adversely impact other water users or the outcomes of the plan; and
(ii) there is a demonstrated need for an increased reliability of the water supply.
(a) for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (b) —10ML; or
(b) for a purpose mentioned in subsection (2) (c) —250ML.
ch.5-pt.2-div.2
Strategies for supplemented surface water only
Strategies for supplemented surface water only
sec.44
Section sec.44
s 44 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 119
sec.45
Section sec.45
s 45 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 119
sec.46
Matters to be considered for infrastructure operating rules
sec.46 Matters to be considered for infrastructure operating rules
In deciding the infrastructure operating rules to be included in the resource operations plan for water infrastructure for supplemented surface water, the chief executive must consider—
the impact of the infrastructure’s operation on the following—
instream water levels;
bed and banks of watercourses;
riparian vegetation; and
the extent to which artificial variations in instream water levels and flows may adversely affect natural ecosystems; and
the impact of the transfer of water between watercourses; and
the likelihood of fish deaths caused by the operation of the infrastructure; and
the matters mentioned in section 23 (1) (a) and (b) .
Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.
s 46 amd 2014 SL No. 142 s 120
(sec.46-ssec.1) In deciding the infrastructure operating rules to be included in the resource operations plan for water infrastructure for supplemented surface water, the chief executive must consider— the impact of the infrastructure’s operation on the following— instream water levels; bed and banks of watercourses; riparian vegetation; and the extent to which artificial variations in instream water levels and flows may adversely affect natural ecosystems; and the impact of the transfer of water between watercourses; and the likelihood of fish deaths caused by the operation of the infrastructure; and the matters mentioned in section 23 (1) (a) and (b) .
(sec.46-ssec.2) Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.
(a) the impact of the infrastructure’s operation on the following— (i) instream water levels; (ii) bed and banks of watercourses; (iii) riparian vegetation; and
(i) instream water levels;
(ii) bed and banks of watercourses;
(iii) riparian vegetation; and
(b) the extent to which artificial variations in instream water levels and flows may adversely affect natural ecosystems; and
(c) the impact of the transfer of water between watercourses; and
(d) the likelihood of fish deaths caused by the operation of the infrastructure; and
(e) the matters mentioned in section 23 (1) (a) and (b) .
(i) instream water levels;
(ii) bed and banks of watercourses;
(iii) riparian vegetation; and
sec.47
Section sec.47
s 47 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 121
sec.48
Section sec.48
s 48 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 122
sec.49
Section sec.49
s 49 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 122
sec.50
Section sec.50
s 50 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 122
sec.51
Section sec.51
s 51 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 122
sec.52
Section sec.52
s 52 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 122
sec.53
Section sec.53
s 53 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 122
sec.54
Section sec.54
s 54 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 122
sec.55
Section sec.55
s 55 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 122
ch.5-pt.2-div.3
Strategies for unsupplemented surface water only
Strategies for unsupplemented surface water only
sec.56
Taking water for stock or domestic purposes
sec.56 Taking water for stock or domestic purposes
For section 20A (5) of the Act , an owner of land may take water, in any way, from a watercourse (other than a part of a watercourse used for distribution of water by a scheme licence holder), lake or spring in the plan area for stock or domestic purposes.
Maps of the parts of watercourses used for distribution of water by a scheme licence holder (supplemented zones) are included in the resource operations plan (attachment 3) which is available on the department’s website.
In this section—
scheme licence holder means—
the holder of a resource operations licence for the Julius Dam Water Supply Scheme; or
the holder of a resource operations licence for the Moondarra Dam Water Supply Scheme; or
the holder of a distribution operations licence for the Julius Dam and Moondarra Dam water supply schemes.
s 56 prev s 56 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 122
pres s 56 ins 2015 SL No. 99 s 22
(sec.56-ssec.1) For section 20A (5) of the Act , an owner of land may take water, in any way, from a watercourse (other than a part of a watercourse used for distribution of water by a scheme licence holder), lake or spring in the plan area for stock or domestic purposes. Maps of the parts of watercourses used for distribution of water by a scheme licence holder (supplemented zones) are included in the resource operations plan (attachment 3) which is available on the department’s website.
(sec.56-ssec.2) In this section— scheme licence holder means— the holder of a resource operations licence for the Julius Dam Water Supply Scheme; or the holder of a resource operations licence for the Moondarra Dam Water Supply Scheme; or the holder of a distribution operations licence for the Julius Dam and Moondarra Dam water supply schemes.
(a) the holder of a resource operations licence for the Julius Dam Water Supply Scheme; or
(b) the holder of a resource operations licence for the Moondarra Dam Water Supply Scheme; or
(c) the holder of a distribution operations licence for the Julius Dam and Moondarra Dam water supply schemes.
sec.57
Restrictions on taking water from waterhole or lake
sec.57 Restrictions on taking water from waterhole or lake
This section applies to the chief executive in making a decision about a water licence to take unsupplemented surface water from a waterhole or lake.
The chief executive must—
consider the impact the taking may have on the cultural or ecological values of the waterhole or lake; and
impose a condition on the licence about maintaining the cultural or ecological values of the waterhole or lake.
a condition that the water may be taken only if the water level in the waterhole or lake is above the level that is 0.5m below the level at which it naturally overflows
However, the chief executive need not impose a condition mentioned in subsection (2) (b) if the chief executive is satisfied—
the taking of water from the waterhole or lake will not adversely affect its cultural or ecological values; or
for an existing water licence—the holder of the licence would suffer economic hardship if the condition were imposed.
(sec.57-ssec.1) This section applies to the chief executive in making a decision about a water licence to take unsupplemented surface water from a waterhole or lake.
(sec.57-ssec.2) The chief executive must— consider the impact the taking may have on the cultural or ecological values of the waterhole or lake; and impose a condition on the licence about maintaining the cultural or ecological values of the waterhole or lake. a condition that the water may be taken only if the water level in the waterhole or lake is above the level that is 0.5m below the level at which it naturally overflows
(sec.57-ssec.3) However, the chief executive need not impose a condition mentioned in subsection (2) (b) if the chief executive is satisfied— the taking of water from the waterhole or lake will not adversely affect its cultural or ecological values; or for an existing water licence—the holder of the licence would suffer economic hardship if the condition were imposed.
(a) consider the impact the taking may have on the cultural or ecological values of the waterhole or lake; and
(b) impose a condition on the licence about maintaining the cultural or ecological values of the waterhole or lake. Example for paragraph (b) — a condition that the water may be taken only if the water level in the waterhole or lake is above the level that is 0.5m below the level at which it naturally overflows
(a) the taking of water from the waterhole or lake will not adversely affect its cultural or ecological values; or
(b) for an existing water licence—the holder of the licence would suffer economic hardship if the condition were imposed.
sec.58
Application of sdiv 2
sec.58 Application of sdiv 2
This subdivision applies to groundwater declared to be water in a watercourse under section 8 ( declared water ).
sec.59
Existing water licences for declared water
sec.59 Existing water licences for declared water
This section applies to an existing water licence to take declared water.
At the commencement of this plan, the licence is taken to be a water licence to take unsupplemented surface water.
The chief executive must amend the licence to ensure it is consistent with the requirements, under subdivision 4 , applying to water licences to take unsupplemented surface water.
(sec.59-ssec.1) This section applies to an existing water licence to take declared water.
(sec.59-ssec.2) At the commencement of this plan, the licence is taken to be a water licence to take unsupplemented surface water.
(sec.59-ssec.3) The chief executive must amend the licence to ensure it is consistent with the requirements, under subdivision 4 , applying to water licences to take unsupplemented surface water.
sec.60
Taking declared water using existing water bores authorised
sec.60 Taking declared water using existing water bores authorised
This section applies to an owner of an existing water bore that takes declared water if the owner did not, before the commencement of this plan, require a water licence to take the water.
The owner may continue to use the bore to take the declared water for 1 year after the commencement of this plan.
Also, if the owner gives the chief executive notice, in the approved form, of the water bore and the taking of water using the bore, the owner may continue to use the bore to take the declared water—
after the notice is given; and
until the owner is granted a water licence under section 61 .
Subsections (2) and (3) do not authorise the owner to take more than the relevant annual volumetric limit of declared water for the owner.
In this section—
relevant annual volumetric limit , of declared water for an owner of an existing water bore that takes declared water, means the annual volume of declared water the owner was taking before 17 October 2003.
(sec.60-ssec.1) This section applies to an owner of an existing water bore that takes declared water if the owner did not, before the commencement of this plan, require a water licence to take the water.
(sec.60-ssec.2) The owner may continue to use the bore to take the declared water for 1 year after the commencement of this plan.
(sec.60-ssec.3) Also, if the owner gives the chief executive notice, in the approved form, of the water bore and the taking of water using the bore, the owner may continue to use the bore to take the declared water— after the notice is given; and until the owner is granted a water licence under section 61 .
(sec.60-ssec.4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not authorise the owner to take more than the relevant annual volumetric limit of declared water for the owner.
(sec.60-ssec.5) In this section— relevant annual volumetric limit , of declared water for an owner of an existing water bore that takes declared water, means the annual volume of declared water the owner was taking before 17 October 2003.
(a) after the notice is given; and
(b) until the owner is granted a water licence under section 61 .
sec.61
Granting water licences for authorities under s 60
sec.61 Granting water licences for authorities under s 60
The chief executive must, under section 212 of the Act , grant a water licence to take unsupplemented surface water to a person authorised under section 60 (3) to continue to take declared water.
The licence must be consistent with subdivision 4 .
However, despite section 74 , the annual volumetric limit for the licence must be the relevant annual volumetric limit of declared water for the owner under section 60 .
(sec.61-ssec.1) The chief executive must, under section 212 of the Act , grant a water licence to take unsupplemented surface water to a person authorised under section 60 (3) to continue to take declared water.
(sec.61-ssec.2) The licence must be consistent with subdivision 4 .
(sec.61-ssec.3) However, despite section 74 , the annual volumetric limit for the licence must be the relevant annual volumetric limit of declared water for the owner under section 60 .
sec.62
Section sec.62
s 62 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 123
sec.63
Section sec.63
s 63 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 123
sec.64
Section sec.64
s 64 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 123
sec.65
Section sec.65
s 65 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 123
sec.66
Section sec.66
s 66 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 123
sec.67
Section sec.67
s 67 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 123
sec.68
Section sec.68
s 68 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 123
sec.69
Application of sdiv 4
sec.69 Application of sdiv 4
This subdivision applies to a water licence to take, or interfere with, unsupplemented surface water in a watercourse, lake or spring.
s 69 amd 2014 SL No. 142 s 124
sec.70
Water licence to take unsupplemented surface water
sec.70 Water licence to take unsupplemented surface water
A water licence to take unsupplemented surface water must state the following—
the purpose for which water may be taken under the licence;
the maximum rate at which water may be taken under the licence;
the daily volumetric limit for the licence;
the annual volumetric limit for the licence;
if a condition, including, for example, a flow condition or a condition about storing water taken under the licence, applies to the licence—the condition.
(a) the purpose for which water may be taken under the licence;
(b) the maximum rate at which water may be taken under the licence;
(c) the daily volumetric limit for the licence;
(d) the annual volumetric limit for the licence;
(e) if a condition, including, for example, a flow condition or a condition about storing water taken under the licence, applies to the licence—the condition.
sec.71
Purpose to be stated on water licence
sec.71 Purpose to be stated on water licence
The purpose stated on a water licence to take unsupplemented surface water must be—
if the intended use for the water is, or the licence is an existing water licence and the purpose stated on the licence is, stock, domestic, irrigation, stock intensive, agriculture or a similar purpose—‘rural’; or
otherwise—‘any’.
(a) if the intended use for the water is, or the licence is an existing water licence and the purpose stated on the licence is, stock, domestic, irrigation, stock intensive, agriculture or a similar purpose—‘rural’; or
(b) otherwise—‘any’.
sec.72
Maximum rates for taking unsupplemented surface water
sec.72 Maximum rates for taking unsupplemented surface water
The maximum rate at which unsupplemented surface water may be taken under a water licence is—
for a licence that states a maximum rate—the stated rate; and
for a licence, other than a licence mentioned in section 59 or granted under section 61 , that does not state a maximum rate but for which a related development permit for the licence—
states a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the rate stated for the pump size in schedule 12 , column 2; or
states a pump size other than a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the rate decided by the chief executive having regard to the rates stated for similar pump sizes in schedule 12 , column 2; and
for a licence other than a licence to which paragraph (a) or (b) applies—the rate decided by the chief executive having regard to—
the nature of the licence; and
an estimate or measurement of the rate at which water can be taken under the licence.
However, for subsection (1) (b) , if the licence holder satisfies the chief executive that the maximum rate at which water can be taken is different from the rate decided under the subsection, the maximum rate at which unsupplemented surface water may be taken under the licence is the rate decided by the chief executive having regard to the following—
the conditions under which the water may be taken;
the water taking capacity of the pump to which the development permit relates (the existing pump );
the irrigation or water distribution system related to the existing pump during the period of not more than 10 years immediately before the commencement of this plan;
the efficiency of the water use mentioned in paragraph (c) .
(sec.72-ssec.1) The maximum rate at which unsupplemented surface water may be taken under a water licence is— for a licence that states a maximum rate—the stated rate; and for a licence, other than a licence mentioned in section 59 or granted under section 61 , that does not state a maximum rate but for which a related development permit for the licence— states a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the rate stated for the pump size in schedule 12 , column 2; or states a pump size other than a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the rate decided by the chief executive having regard to the rates stated for similar pump sizes in schedule 12 , column 2; and for a licence other than a licence to which paragraph (a) or (b) applies—the rate decided by the chief executive having regard to— the nature of the licence; and an estimate or measurement of the rate at which water can be taken under the licence.
(sec.72-ssec.2) However, for subsection (1) (b) , if the licence holder satisfies the chief executive that the maximum rate at which water can be taken is different from the rate decided under the subsection, the maximum rate at which unsupplemented surface water may be taken under the licence is the rate decided by the chief executive having regard to the following— the conditions under which the water may be taken; the water taking capacity of the pump to which the development permit relates (the existing pump ); the irrigation or water distribution system related to the existing pump during the period of not more than 10 years immediately before the commencement of this plan; the efficiency of the water use mentioned in paragraph (c) .
(a) for a licence that states a maximum rate—the stated rate; and
(b) for a licence, other than a licence mentioned in section 59 or granted under section 61 , that does not state a maximum rate but for which a related development permit for the licence— (i) states a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the rate stated for the pump size in schedule 12 , column 2; or (ii) states a pump size other than a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the rate decided by the chief executive having regard to the rates stated for similar pump sizes in schedule 12 , column 2; and
(i) states a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the rate stated for the pump size in schedule 12 , column 2; or
(ii) states a pump size other than a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the rate decided by the chief executive having regard to the rates stated for similar pump sizes in schedule 12 , column 2; and
(c) for a licence other than a licence to which paragraph (a) or (b) applies—the rate decided by the chief executive having regard to— (i) the nature of the licence; and (ii) an estimate or measurement of the rate at which water can be taken under the licence.
(i) the nature of the licence; and
(ii) an estimate or measurement of the rate at which water can be taken under the licence.
(i) states a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the rate stated for the pump size in schedule 12 , column 2; or
(ii) states a pump size other than a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the rate decided by the chief executive having regard to the rates stated for similar pump sizes in schedule 12 , column 2; and
(i) the nature of the licence; and
(ii) an estimate or measurement of the rate at which water can be taken under the licence.
(a) the conditions under which the water may be taken;
(b) the water taking capacity of the pump to which the development permit relates (the existing pump );
(c) the irrigation or water distribution system related to the existing pump during the period of not more than 10 years immediately before the commencement of this plan;
(d) the efficiency of the water use mentioned in paragraph (c) .
sec.73
Daily volumetric limit for taking unsupplemented surface water
sec.73 Daily volumetric limit for taking unsupplemented surface water
The daily volumetric limit for a water licence to take unsupplemented surface water is—
for a licence that states a daily volumetric limit—the stated volume; and
for a licence, other than a licence mentioned in section 59 or granted under section 61 , that does not state a daily volumetric limit but for which a related development permit for the licence—
states a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the daily volumetric limit stated in schedule 12 , column 3, for the pump size; or
states a pump size other than a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the daily volumetric limit decided by the chief executive having regard to the daily volumetric limits stated for similar pump sizes in schedule 12 , column 3; and
for a licence other than a licence to which paragraph (a) or (b) applies—the daily volumetric limit decided by the chief executive having regard to—
the nature of the licence; and
an estimate or measurement of the rate at which water can be taken under the licence.
However, for subsection (1) (b) , if the licence holder satisfies the chief executive that the water taking capacity of the pump is different from the daily volumetric limit decided under the subsection, the daily volumetric limit for the licence is the daily volumetric limit decided by the chief executive having regard to the following—
the conditions under which the water may be taken;
the water taking capacity of the pump to which the development permit relates (the existing pump ) under normal operating conditions;
the irrigation or water distribution system related to the existing pump during the period of not more than 10 years immediately before the commencement of this plan;
the efficiency of the water use mentioned in paragraph (c) .
The chief executive must ensure the daily volumetric limit for a water licence to take unsupplemented surface water is not more than the total volume that could be taken in a day at the maximum rate decided, for the licence, under section 72 .
(sec.73-ssec.1) The daily volumetric limit for a water licence to take unsupplemented surface water is— for a licence that states a daily volumetric limit—the stated volume; and for a licence, other than a licence mentioned in section 59 or granted under section 61 , that does not state a daily volumetric limit but for which a related development permit for the licence— states a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the daily volumetric limit stated in schedule 12 , column 3, for the pump size; or states a pump size other than a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the daily volumetric limit decided by the chief executive having regard to the daily volumetric limits stated for similar pump sizes in schedule 12 , column 3; and for a licence other than a licence to which paragraph (a) or (b) applies—the daily volumetric limit decided by the chief executive having regard to— the nature of the licence; and an estimate or measurement of the rate at which water can be taken under the licence.
(sec.73-ssec.2) However, for subsection (1) (b) , if the licence holder satisfies the chief executive that the water taking capacity of the pump is different from the daily volumetric limit decided under the subsection, the daily volumetric limit for the licence is the daily volumetric limit decided by the chief executive having regard to the following— the conditions under which the water may be taken; the water taking capacity of the pump to which the development permit relates (the existing pump ) under normal operating conditions; the irrigation or water distribution system related to the existing pump during the period of not more than 10 years immediately before the commencement of this plan; the efficiency of the water use mentioned in paragraph (c) .
(sec.73-ssec.3) The chief executive must ensure the daily volumetric limit for a water licence to take unsupplemented surface water is not more than the total volume that could be taken in a day at the maximum rate decided, for the licence, under section 72 .
(a) for a licence that states a daily volumetric limit—the stated volume; and
(b) for a licence, other than a licence mentioned in section 59 or granted under section 61 , that does not state a daily volumetric limit but for which a related development permit for the licence— (i) states a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the daily volumetric limit stated in schedule 12 , column 3, for the pump size; or (ii) states a pump size other than a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the daily volumetric limit decided by the chief executive having regard to the daily volumetric limits stated for similar pump sizes in schedule 12 , column 3; and
(i) states a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the daily volumetric limit stated in schedule 12 , column 3, for the pump size; or
(ii) states a pump size other than a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the daily volumetric limit decided by the chief executive having regard to the daily volumetric limits stated for similar pump sizes in schedule 12 , column 3; and
(c) for a licence other than a licence to which paragraph (a) or (b) applies—the daily volumetric limit decided by the chief executive having regard to— (i) the nature of the licence; and (ii) an estimate or measurement of the rate at which water can be taken under the licence.
(i) the nature of the licence; and
(ii) an estimate or measurement of the rate at which water can be taken under the licence.
(i) states a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the daily volumetric limit stated in schedule 12 , column 3, for the pump size; or
(ii) states a pump size other than a pump size mentioned in schedule 12 , column 1—the daily volumetric limit decided by the chief executive having regard to the daily volumetric limits stated for similar pump sizes in schedule 12 , column 3; and
(i) the nature of the licence; and
(ii) an estimate or measurement of the rate at which water can be taken under the licence.
(a) the conditions under which the water may be taken;
(b) the water taking capacity of the pump to which the development permit relates (the existing pump ) under normal operating conditions;
(c) the irrigation or water distribution system related to the existing pump during the period of not more than 10 years immediately before the commencement of this plan;
(d) the efficiency of the water use mentioned in paragraph (c) .
sec.74
Annual volumetric limit for taking unsupplemented surface water
sec.74 Annual volumetric limit for taking unsupplemented surface water
The annual volumetric limit for a water licence to take unsupplemented surface water is—
for a licence that states the volume of water that may be taken in a period of 12 months—the stated volume; and
for a licence that states the area that may be irrigated under the licence—the volume decided by the chief executive having regard to the volume of water required for the licence’s intended purpose but not more than the volume, expressed in megalitres, calculated by multiplying the area, in hectares, by 12; and
for a licence other than a licence to which paragraph (a) or (b) applies—the volume decided by the chief executive having regard to the following—
the conditions under which water may be taken under the licence;
the water taking capacity of any works for taking water under the licence;
the volume of water required for the licence’s intended purpose;
the annual volumes of water estimated by the chief executive to have been taken under the licence during the period, of not more than 10 years, immediately before the commencement of this plan;
the efficiency of the use of the water mentioned in subparagraph (iv) .
(a) for a licence that states the volume of water that may be taken in a period of 12 months—the stated volume; and
(b) for a licence that states the area that may be irrigated under the licence—the volume decided by the chief executive having regard to the volume of water required for the licence’s intended purpose but not more than the volume, expressed in megalitres, calculated by multiplying the area, in hectares, by 12; and
(c) for a licence other than a licence to which paragraph (a) or (b) applies—the volume decided by the chief executive having regard to the following— (i) the conditions under which water may be taken under the licence; (ii) the water taking capacity of any works for taking water under the licence; (iii) the volume of water required for the licence’s intended purpose; (iv) the annual volumes of water estimated by the chief executive to have been taken under the licence during the period, of not more than 10 years, immediately before the commencement of this plan; (v) the efficiency of the use of the water mentioned in subparagraph (iv) .
(i) the conditions under which water may be taken under the licence;
(ii) the water taking capacity of any works for taking water under the licence;
(iii) the volume of water required for the licence’s intended purpose;
(iv) the annual volumes of water estimated by the chief executive to have been taken under the licence during the period, of not more than 10 years, immediately before the commencement of this plan;
(v) the efficiency of the use of the water mentioned in subparagraph (iv) .
(i) the conditions under which water may be taken under the licence;
(ii) the water taking capacity of any works for taking water under the licence;
(iii) the volume of water required for the licence’s intended purpose;
(iv) the annual volumes of water estimated by the chief executive to have been taken under the licence during the period, of not more than 10 years, immediately before the commencement of this plan;
(v) the efficiency of the use of the water mentioned in subparagraph (iv) .
sec.75
Conditions for taking unsupplemented surface water
sec.75 Conditions for taking unsupplemented surface water
The chief executive may impose on a water licence to take unsupplemented surface water any condition the chief executive is satisfied is necessary to ensure the purposes and outcomes of this plan are achieved.
In deciding the flow conditions under which water may be taken under an existing water licence to take unsupplemented surface water, the chief executive must have regard to the conditions already applying to the licence.
(sec.75-ssec.1) The chief executive may impose on a water licence to take unsupplemented surface water any condition the chief executive is satisfied is necessary to ensure the purposes and outcomes of this plan are achieved.
(sec.75-ssec.2) In deciding the flow conditions under which water may be taken under an existing water licence to take unsupplemented surface water, the chief executive must have regard to the conditions already applying to the licence.
sec.76
Storing unsupplemented water taken under a water licence
sec.76 Storing unsupplemented water taken under a water licence
Without limiting section 75 (1) , the chief executive may impose, on a water licence to take unsupplemented water, a condition that states the works that may be used to store the water taken under the licence.
In deciding whether to impose the condition mentioned in subsection (1) , the chief executive must have regard to the capacity of any existing overland flow works being used to store the water.
(sec.76-ssec.1) Without limiting section 75 (1) , the chief executive may impose, on a water licence to take unsupplemented water, a condition that states the works that may be used to store the water taken under the licence.
(sec.76-ssec.2) In deciding whether to impose the condition mentioned in subsection (1) , the chief executive must have regard to the capacity of any existing overland flow works being used to store the water.
sec.77
Conditions giving effect to rules
sec.77 Conditions giving effect to rules
Subsection (2) applies to any environmental management rules, infrastructure operating rules or water sharing rules included in the resource operations plan.
The chief executive must—
amend water licences in existence at the commencement of the resource operations plan to impose conditions giving effect to the rules; and
impose conditions giving effect to the rules on water licences granted after the commencement.
(sec.77-ssec.1) Subsection (2) applies to any environmental management rules, infrastructure operating rules or water sharing rules included in the resource operations plan.
(sec.77-ssec.2) The chief executive must— amend water licences in existence at the commencement of the resource operations plan to impose conditions giving effect to the rules; and impose conditions giving effect to the rules on water licences granted after the commencement.
(a) amend water licences in existence at the commencement of the resource operations plan to impose conditions giving effect to the rules; and
(b) impose conditions giving effect to the rules on water licences granted after the commencement.
sec.78
Limitation on taking overland flow water— Act , s 20 (2)
sec.78 Limitation on taking overland flow water— Act , s 20 (2)
A person may not take overland flow water other than—
for stock or domestic purposes; or
for any purpose using works that allow the taking of overland flow water and have a capacity of not more than 250ML; or
under a water licence; or
overland flow water of not more than the amount necessary to satisfy the requirements of—
an environmental authority issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 ; or
a development permit for carrying out an environmentally relevant activity, other than a mining or petroleum activity, under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 ; or
overland flow water that is contaminated agricultural run-off water; or
under an authority under section 79 .
In this section—
contaminated agricultural run-off water has the meaning given by the ‘Code for Assessable Development for Operational Works for Taking Overland Flow Water’.
A copy of the code is available on the department’s website.
s 78 amd 2013 Act No. 23 s 352 sch 1 pt 2
(sec.78-ssec.1) A person may not take overland flow water other than— for stock or domestic purposes; or for any purpose using works that allow the taking of overland flow water and have a capacity of not more than 250ML; or under a water licence; or overland flow water of not more than the amount necessary to satisfy the requirements of— an environmental authority issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 ; or a development permit for carrying out an environmentally relevant activity, other than a mining or petroleum activity, under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 ; or overland flow water that is contaminated agricultural run-off water; or under an authority under section 79 .
(sec.78-ssec.2) In this section— contaminated agricultural run-off water has the meaning given by the ‘Code for Assessable Development for Operational Works for Taking Overland Flow Water’. A copy of the code is available on the department’s website.
(a) for stock or domestic purposes; or
(b) for any purpose using works that allow the taking of overland flow water and have a capacity of not more than 250ML; or
(c) under a water licence; or
(d) overland flow water of not more than the amount necessary to satisfy the requirements of— (i) an environmental authority issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 ; or (ii) a development permit for carrying out an environmentally relevant activity, other than a mining or petroleum activity, under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 ; or
(i) an environmental authority issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 ; or
(ii) a development permit for carrying out an environmentally relevant activity, other than a mining or petroleum activity, under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 ; or
(e) overland flow water that is contaminated agricultural run-off water; or
(f) under an authority under section 79 .
(i) an environmental authority issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 ; or
(ii) a development permit for carrying out an environmentally relevant activity, other than a mining or petroleum activity, under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 ; or
sec.79
Taking water using particular existing overland flow works authorised
sec.79 Taking water using particular existing overland flow works authorised
This section applies to the owner of land on which existing overland flow works are situated, other than works for taking only the overland flow water that may be taken under section 78 (1) (a) to (e) .
The owner may continue to use the existing overland flow works to take overland flow water for 1 year after the commencement of this plan.
Also, if the owner gives the chief executive notice of the existing overland flow works, in the approved form, and any further information reasonably required by the chief executive about the works, the owner may continue to use the works to take overland flow—
after the notice and information are given; and
until the owner is granted a water licence under the Act .
In this section—
existing overland flow works includes works that—
are a reconfiguration of existing overland flow works (the original works ); and
do not increase the average annual volume of water taken above the average annual volume taken using the original works.
(sec.79-ssec.1) This section applies to the owner of land on which existing overland flow works are situated, other than works for taking only the overland flow water that may be taken under section 78 (1) (a) to (e) .
(sec.79-ssec.2) The owner may continue to use the existing overland flow works to take overland flow water for 1 year after the commencement of this plan.
(sec.79-ssec.3) Also, if the owner gives the chief executive notice of the existing overland flow works, in the approved form, and any further information reasonably required by the chief executive about the works, the owner may continue to use the works to take overland flow— after the notice and information are given; and until the owner is granted a water licence under the Act .
(sec.79-ssec.4) In this section— existing overland flow works includes works that— are a reconfiguration of existing overland flow works (the original works ); and do not increase the average annual volume of water taken above the average annual volume taken using the original works.
(a) after the notice and information are given; and
(b) until the owner is granted a water licence under the Act .
(a) are a reconfiguration of existing overland flow works (the original works ); and
(b) do not increase the average annual volume of water taken above the average annual volume taken using the original works.
sec.80
Granting or amending water licences under the resource operations plan
sec.80 Granting or amending water licences under the resource operations plan
This section applies if the resource operations plan states a process for—
granting, under section 212 of the Act , a water licence to replace an authority under section 79 (3) for existing overland flow works; or
amending a water licence mentioned in paragraph (a) .
In following the process and granting or amending a water licence, the chief executive—
must consider—
the average annual volume of overland flow water that could have been taken, immediately before the commencement of this plan, using the existing overland flow works to which the authority relates; and
the annual volumes of overland flow water estimated by the chief executive to have been taken by the works during the period, of not more than 10 years, immediately before the commencement; and
may consider the extent to which the works, immediately before the commencement, allowed—
the taking of other water under another authorisation; or
the storage of other water taken under another authorisation.
Subsection (2) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.
The process must provide that the chief executive may require the authority or licence holder to give the chief executive a certificate, from a registered professional engineer, stating information about the works, including the capacity of the works and the rate at which the works may take water.
(sec.80-ssec.1) This section applies if the resource operations plan states a process for— granting, under section 212 of the Act , a water licence to replace an authority under section 79 (3) for existing overland flow works; or amending a water licence mentioned in paragraph (a) .
(sec.80-ssec.2) In following the process and granting or amending a water licence, the chief executive— must consider— the average annual volume of overland flow water that could have been taken, immediately before the commencement of this plan, using the existing overland flow works to which the authority relates; and the annual volumes of overland flow water estimated by the chief executive to have been taken by the works during the period, of not more than 10 years, immediately before the commencement; and may consider the extent to which the works, immediately before the commencement, allowed— the taking of other water under another authorisation; or the storage of other water taken under another authorisation.
(sec.80-ssec.3) Subsection (2) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.
(sec.80-ssec.4) The process must provide that the chief executive may require the authority or licence holder to give the chief executive a certificate, from a registered professional engineer, stating information about the works, including the capacity of the works and the rate at which the works may take water.
(a) granting, under section 212 of the Act , a water licence to replace an authority under section 79 (3) for existing overland flow works; or
(b) amending a water licence mentioned in paragraph (a) .
(a) must consider— (i) the average annual volume of overland flow water that could have been taken, immediately before the commencement of this plan, using the existing overland flow works to which the authority relates; and (ii) the annual volumes of overland flow water estimated by the chief executive to have been taken by the works during the period, of not more than 10 years, immediately before the commencement; and
(i) the average annual volume of overland flow water that could have been taken, immediately before the commencement of this plan, using the existing overland flow works to which the authority relates; and
(ii) the annual volumes of overland flow water estimated by the chief executive to have been taken by the works during the period, of not more than 10 years, immediately before the commencement; and
(b) may consider the extent to which the works, immediately before the commencement, allowed— (i) the taking of other water under another authorisation; or (ii) the storage of other water taken under another authorisation.
(i) the taking of other water under another authorisation; or
(ii) the storage of other water taken under another authorisation.
(i) the average annual volume of overland flow water that could have been taken, immediately before the commencement of this plan, using the existing overland flow works to which the authority relates; and
(ii) the annual volumes of overland flow water estimated by the chief executive to have been taken by the works during the period, of not more than 10 years, immediately before the commencement; and
(i) the taking of other water under another authorisation; or
(ii) the storage of other water taken under another authorisation.
sec.81
Section sec.81
s 81 amd 2009 SL No. 280 s 180 ; 2011 Act No. 40 s 107 sch
om 2016 SL No. 216 s 146 sch 20
ch.5-pt.3
Additional strategies for groundwater
Additional strategies for groundwater
ch.5-pt.3-div.1
Preliminary
Preliminary
sec.82
Application of pt 3
sec.82 Application of pt 3
The strategies stated in this part apply to groundwater in addition to the strategies stated in part 1 .
sec.83
Section sec.83
s 83 amd 2009 SL No. 280 s 181 ; 2011 Act No. 40 s 107 sch ; 2014 Act No. 29 s 152 ; 2015 SL No. 99 s 23
om 2016 SL No. 216 s 146 sch 20
ch.5-pt.3-div.2
Strategies for Nicholson and Einasleigh groundwater management areas
Strategies for Nicholson and Einasleigh groundwater management areas
sec.84
Limitation on taking or interfering with water— Act , s 20 (2)
sec.84 Limitation on taking or interfering with water— Act , s 20 (2)
In the Nicholson groundwater management area and the Einasleigh groundwater management area, a person may not take or interfere with groundwater other than—
for stock or domestic purposes; or
for monitoring the quality of the water or controlling the salinity of the water; or
under a water licence or water permit.
s 84 amd 2013 Act No. 23 s 352 sch 1 pt 2
(a) for stock or domestic purposes; or
(b) for monitoring the quality of the water or controlling the salinity of the water; or
(c) under a water licence or water permit.
sec.85
Water licence to take groundwater
sec.85 Water licence to take groundwater
A water licence to take groundwater in the Nicholson groundwater management area or the Einasleigh groundwater management area must state—
the purpose for which the water may be taken under the licence; and
the annual volumetric limit for the licence.
Despite subsection (1) (b) , a water licence to take groundwater for dewatering may, but need not, state an annual volumetric limit.
(sec.85-ssec.1) A water licence to take groundwater in the Nicholson groundwater management area or the Einasleigh groundwater management area must state— the purpose for which the water may be taken under the licence; and the annual volumetric limit for the licence.
(sec.85-ssec.2) Despite subsection (1) (b) , a water licence to take groundwater for dewatering may, but need not, state an annual volumetric limit.
(a) the purpose for which the water may be taken under the licence; and
(b) the annual volumetric limit for the licence.
sec.86
Purpose to be stated on water licence
sec.86 Purpose to be stated on water licence
The purpose stated on a water licence to take groundwater in the Nicholson groundwater management area or the Einasleigh groundwater management area must be—
if the intended use for the water is, or the licence is an existing water licence and the purpose stated on the licence is, stock, domestic, irrigation, stock intensive, agriculture or a similar purpose—‘rural’; or
if the intended use for the water is, or the licence is an existing water licence and the purpose stated on the licence is, dewatering or a similar purpose—‘dewatering’; or
otherwise—‘any’.
(a) if the intended use for the water is, or the licence is an existing water licence and the purpose stated on the licence is, stock, domestic, irrigation, stock intensive, agriculture or a similar purpose—‘rural’; or
(b) if the intended use for the water is, or the licence is an existing water licence and the purpose stated on the licence is, dewatering or a similar purpose—‘dewatering’; or
(c) otherwise—‘any’.
sec.87
Amendment of water licences to state annual volumetric limit
sec.87 Amendment of water licences to state annual volumetric limit
This section applies to an existing water licence to take groundwater in the Nicholson groundwater management area or the Einasleigh groundwater management area that does not state the maximum annual volume of water that may be taken under the licence.
The chief executive may, under section 217 of the Act , amend the licence to state an annual volumetric limit.
In deciding the annual volumetric limit, the chief executive must have regard to the following—
the conditions of the licence;
the efficiency of the current use of water having regard to industry best practice in efficient water use;
the impact the taking is having on—
the flow of water to watercourses or springs; and
groundwater levels;
the annual volume of water estimated by the chief executive to have been taken under the licence immediately before 17 October 2003;
the impact the taking is having on water entitlements and other authorities to take or interfere with water;
the availability of an alternative water supply for the purpose for which the water is being taken;
the total annual volumetric limits for water licences in the area;
if the holder of the licence has undertaken a pumping test for the existing bore or bores to which the licence relates—the results of the test.
(sec.87-ssec.1) This section applies to an existing water licence to take groundwater in the Nicholson groundwater management area or the Einasleigh groundwater management area that does not state the maximum annual volume of water that may be taken under the licence.
(sec.87-ssec.2) The chief executive may, under section 217 of the Act , amend the licence to state an annual volumetric limit.
(sec.87-ssec.3) In deciding the annual volumetric limit, the chief executive must have regard to the following— the conditions of the licence; the efficiency of the current use of water having regard to industry best practice in efficient water use; the impact the taking is having on— the flow of water to watercourses or springs; and groundwater levels; the annual volume of water estimated by the chief executive to have been taken under the licence immediately before 17 October 2003; the impact the taking is having on water entitlements and other authorities to take or interfere with water; the availability of an alternative water supply for the purpose for which the water is being taken; the total annual volumetric limits for water licences in the area; if the holder of the licence has undertaken a pumping test for the existing bore or bores to which the licence relates—the results of the test.
(a) the conditions of the licence;
(b) the efficiency of the current use of water having regard to industry best practice in efficient water use;
(c) the impact the taking is having on— (i) the flow of water to watercourses or springs; and (ii) groundwater levels;
(i) the flow of water to watercourses or springs; and
(ii) groundwater levels;
(d) the annual volume of water estimated by the chief executive to have been taken under the licence immediately before 17 October 2003;
(e) the impact the taking is having on water entitlements and other authorities to take or interfere with water;
(f) the availability of an alternative water supply for the purpose for which the water is being taken;
(g) the total annual volumetric limits for water licences in the area;
(h) if the holder of the licence has undertaken a pumping test for the existing bore or bores to which the licence relates—the results of the test.
(i) the flow of water to watercourses or springs; and
(ii) groundwater levels;
sec.88
Conditions for taking groundwater
sec.88 Conditions for taking groundwater
This section applies to a water licence to take groundwater in the Nicholson groundwater management area or the Einasleigh groundwater management area granted after the commencement of this plan.
The chief executive may impose conditions on the licence requiring the holder of the licence—
to provide and maintain access to alternative water supplies for other persons, authorised under the Act to take water, who would be significantly adversely affected by the granting of the licence; and
to carry out and report on a stated activity for monitoring the impact of taking groundwater under the licence.
(sec.88-ssec.1) This section applies to a water licence to take groundwater in the Nicholson groundwater management area or the Einasleigh groundwater management area granted after the commencement of this plan.
(sec.88-ssec.2) The chief executive may impose conditions on the licence requiring the holder of the licence— to provide and maintain access to alternative water supplies for other persons, authorised under the Act to take water, who would be significantly adversely affected by the granting of the licence; and to carry out and report on a stated activity for monitoring the impact of taking groundwater under the licence.
(a) to provide and maintain access to alternative water supplies for other persons, authorised under the Act to take water, who would be significantly adversely affected by the granting of the licence; and
(b) to carry out and report on a stated activity for monitoring the impact of taking groundwater under the licence.
sec.89
Taking water using existing water bores authorised
sec.89 Taking water using existing water bores authorised
The owner of an existing water bore in the Einasleigh groundwater management area may continue to use the bore to take groundwater for 1 year after the commencement of this plan.
Also, if the owner gives the chief executive notice, in the approved form, of the water bore and the taking of water using the bore, the owner may continue to use the bore to take groundwater—
after the notice is given; and
until the owner is granted a water licence under section 90 .
Subsections (1) and (2) do not authorise the owner to take more than the relevant annual volumetric limit of groundwater for the owner.
In this section—
relevant annual volumetric limit , of groundwater for an owner of an existing water bore in the Einasleigh groundwater management area, means the annual volume of groundwater the owner was taking in the Einasleigh groundwater management area before 17 October 2003.
(sec.89-ssec.1) The owner of an existing water bore in the Einasleigh groundwater management area may continue to use the bore to take groundwater for 1 year after the commencement of this plan.
(sec.89-ssec.2) Also, if the owner gives the chief executive notice, in the approved form, of the water bore and the taking of water using the bore, the owner may continue to use the bore to take groundwater— after the notice is given; and until the owner is granted a water licence under section 90 .
(sec.89-ssec.3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not authorise the owner to take more than the relevant annual volumetric limit of groundwater for the owner.
(sec.89-ssec.4) In this section— relevant annual volumetric limit , of groundwater for an owner of an existing water bore in the Einasleigh groundwater management area, means the annual volume of groundwater the owner was taking in the Einasleigh groundwater management area before 17 October 2003.
(a) after the notice is given; and
(b) until the owner is granted a water licence under section 90 .
sec.90
Granting water licences for authorities under s 89
sec.90 Granting water licences for authorities under s 89
The chief executive must, under section 212 of the Act , grant a water licence to a person authorised under section 89 (2) to continue taking groundwater.
The licence must be consistent with this division.
(sec.90-ssec.1) The chief executive must, under section 212 of the Act , grant a water licence to a person authorised under section 89 (2) to continue taking groundwater.
(sec.90-ssec.2) The licence must be consistent with this division.
sch.5-pt.1
Low flow objectives
Low flow objectives
sch.5-sec
Section sch.5-sec
At node 1—
the number of periods of no flow of more than 1 month but less than 6 months in the simulation period be not more than 150; and
the number of periods of no flow of 6 months or more in the simulation period be not more than 80; and
the number of days on which the daily flow equals or exceeds the median non-zero daily flow, expressed as a percentage of the number of days on which the daily flow for the pre-development flow pattern equals or exceeds the median non-zero daily flow, in the simulation period be at least 50%.
At node 6, the proportion of no flow days in the simulation period be no more than 28%.
At node 7, the proportion of no flow days in the simulation period be no more than 70%.
(sch.5-sec-ssec.1) At node 1— the number of periods of no flow of more than 1 month but less than 6 months in the simulation period be not more than 150; and the number of periods of no flow of 6 months or more in the simulation period be not more than 80; and the number of days on which the daily flow equals or exceeds the median non-zero daily flow, expressed as a percentage of the number of days on which the daily flow for the pre-development flow pattern equals or exceeds the median non-zero daily flow, in the simulation period be at least 50%.
(sch.5-sec-ssec.2) At node 6, the proportion of no flow days in the simulation period be no more than 28%.
(sch.5-sec-ssec.3) At node 7, the proportion of no flow days in the simulation period be no more than 70%.
(a) the number of periods of no flow of more than 1 month but less than 6 months in the simulation period be not more than 150; and
(b) the number of periods of no flow of 6 months or more in the simulation period be not more than 80; and
(c) the number of days on which the daily flow equals or exceeds the median non-zero daily flow, expressed as a percentage of the number of days on which the daily flow for the pre-development flow pattern equals or exceeds the median non-zero daily flow, in the simulation period be at least 50%.
sch.5-pt.2
Medium to high flow objectives
Medium to high flow objectives
sch.5-sec-oc.2
Table 2
sch.5-sec-oc.2 Table 2
At each node mentioned in table 2, column 1—
the mean annual flow in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the mean annual flow for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 2 of the table; and
the median annual flow ratio in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the median annual flow for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 3 of the table; and
the 10% daily flow be equalled or exceeded on at least the number of days in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage, stated for the node in column 4 of the table; and
the 1.5 year daily flow volume in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the 1.5 year daily flow volume for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 5 of the table; and
the 5 year daily flow volume in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the 5 year daily flow volume for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 6 of the table; and
the 20 year daily flow volume in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the 20 year daily flow volume for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 7 of the table.
Column 1
Column 2
Column 3
Column 4
Column 5
Column 6
Column 7
Node
Mean annual flow
Median annual flow
10% daily flow
1.5 year daily flow volume
5 year daily flow volume
20 year daily flow volume
1
63%
37%
5%
37%
70%
72%
6
93%
89.5%
–
93%
97%
98%
7
90%
78%
–
90%
96.5%
98%
(sch.5-sec-oc.2-ssec.1) At each node mentioned in table 2, column 1— the mean annual flow in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the mean annual flow for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 2 of the table; and the median annual flow ratio in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the median annual flow for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 3 of the table; and the 10% daily flow be equalled or exceeded on at least the number of days in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage, stated for the node in column 4 of the table; and the 1.5 year daily flow volume in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the 1.5 year daily flow volume for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 5 of the table; and the 5 year daily flow volume in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the 5 year daily flow volume for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 6 of the table; and the 20 year daily flow volume in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the 20 year daily flow volume for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 7 of the table. Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 4 Column 5 Column 6 Column 7 Node Mean annual flow Median annual flow 10% daily flow 1.5 year daily flow volume 5 year daily flow volume 20 year daily flow volume 1 63% 37% 5% 37% 70% 72% 6 93% 89.5% – 93% 97% 98% 7 90% 78% – 90% 96.5% 98%
(a) the mean annual flow in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the mean annual flow for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 2 of the table; and
(b) the median annual flow ratio in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the median annual flow for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 3 of the table; and
(c) the 10% daily flow be equalled or exceeded on at least the number of days in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage, stated for the node in column 4 of the table; and
(d) the 1.5 year daily flow volume in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the 1.5 year daily flow volume for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 5 of the table; and
(e) the 5 year daily flow volume in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the 5 year daily flow volume for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 6 of the table; and
(f) the 20 year daily flow volume in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the 20 year daily flow volume for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 7 of the table.
sch.5-pt.3
Wet season flow objectives
Wet season flow objectives
sch.5-sec-oc.3
Section sch.5-sec-oc.3
At each node mentioned in table 3, column 1, the median wet season flow in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the median wet season flow for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 2 of the table.
Column 1
Column 2
Node
Median wet season flow
6
90%
7
75%
(sch.5-sec-oc.3-ssec.1) At each node mentioned in table 3, column 1, the median wet season flow in the simulation period, expressed as a percentage of the median wet season flow for the pre-development flow pattern in the simulation period, be at least the percentage stated for the node in column 2 of the table. Column 1 Column 2 Node Median wet season flow 6 90% 7 75%
sch.7-pt.1
Water from Lake Mary Kathleen
Water from Lake Mary Kathleen
sch.7-pt.2
Water for State purpose
Water for State purpose
Source text: opening excerpt
Sourced from Queensland Legislation (legislation.qld.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
ch.4-pt.1 Environmental flow objectives
Environmental flow objectives
sec.17 Performance indicators for environmental flow objectives
sec.17 Performance indicators for environmental flow objectives
The performance indicators for the environmental flow objectives are—
for assessing periods of low flow at a node—
the number of periods of no flow of more than 1 month but less than 6 months; and
the number of periods of no flow of 6 months or more; and
the proportion of no flow days; and
median non-zero daily flow; and
for assessing periods of medium to high flow at a node—
mean annual flow; and
median annual flow; and
10% daily flow; and
1.5 year daily flow volume; and
5 year daily flow volume; and
20 year daily flow volume; and
for assessing periods of wet season flow at a node—median wet season flow.
s 17 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 7
(a) for assessing periods of low flow at a node— (i) the number of periods of no flow of more than 1 month but less than 6 months; and (ii) the number of periods of no flow of 6 months or more; and (iii) the proportion of no flow days; and (iv) median non-zero daily flow; and
(i) the number of periods of no flow of more than 1 month but less than 6 months; and
(ii) the number of periods of no flow of 6 months or more; and
(iii) the proportion of no flow days; and
(iv) median non-zero daily flow; and
(b) for assessing periods of medium to high flow at a node— (i) mean annual flow; and (ii) median annual flow; and (iii) 10% daily flow; and (iv) 1.5 year daily flow volume; and (v) 5 year daily flow volume; and (vi) 20 year daily flow volume; and
(i) mean annual flow; and
(ii) median annual flow; and
(iii) 10% daily flow; and
(iv) 1.5 year daily flow volume; and
(v) 5 year daily flow volume; and
(vi) 20 year daily flow volume; and
(c) for assessing periods of wet season flow at a node—median wet season flow.
(i) the number of periods of no flow of more than 1 month but less than 6 months; and
(ii) the number of periods of no flow of 6 months or more; and
(iii) the proportion of no flow days; and
(iv) median non-zero daily flow; and
(i) mean annual flow; and
(ii) median annual flow; and
(iii) 10% daily flow; and
(iv) 1.5 year daily flow volume; and
(v) 5 year daily flow volume; and
Imposes a licensing regime for unsupplemented surface water and groundwater with required content for licences (purpose, maximum rate, daily and annual volumetric limits), methods to calculate limits (ss 70-76, 72-74), and transitional arrangements for existing bores and overland flow works (ss 59-61, 79-61, 89-90).
Prohibits certain taking of overland flow and sets exceptions (s 78), and places special restrictions in the Nicholson and Einasleigh groundwater management areas (s 84).
The statute delegates substantial implementation discretion to the chief executive: deciding water sharing rules (s 24), environmental management rules (s 23), approving alternative assessment methods (s 42), setting rates and volumetric limits where licences do not state them (ss 72-74), and amending existing licences to give effect to rules (s 77). The plan ties the statutory objectives to operational tests: the prescribed simulation is the primary tool for assessing consistency with the objectives (s 42), and schedule 5’s numeric tests are the outcome thresholds the simulation must meet.
The text also creates specific, limited-purpose allocations: indigenous unallocated water may be granted only to help indigenous communities achieve economic and social aspirations in named areas (s 32); strategic reserves may only be allocated from Lake Mary Kathleen for any purpose or otherwise only for State purposes (s 34), with strategic State-purpose grants limited to the life of a project (s 37). General unallocated water may be granted for any purpose but, for Flinders and Gilbert, requires a pass flow condition and transfers in accordance with group B water transfer rules (s 39A). These clauses create legally enforceable priority and conditionality rules for allocation of previously unallocated water.
Official rationales are embedded in the text where present: for example, s 32 expressly ties indigenous reserve grants to indigenous communities’ economic and social aspirations; many sections list environmental, cultural and social matters the chief executive must consider when making rules or decisions (ss 23, 24, 43, 46). The instrument therefore combines prescriptive numeric objectives, decision-making constraints, and delegated operational discretion to implement those objectives through licence conditions, allocation processes and modelling requirements.
Main concepts
This instrument revolves around a small set of recurring legal and technical concepts. Each concept carries specific operational consequences because the statute links it to decision thresholds, numerical limits, or administrative duties.
Environmental flow objectives and performance indicators. The Act codifies a set of flow performance indicators to assess low flows, medium-to-high flows and wet-season flows (s 17). The performance indicators are concrete hydrological metrics: counts of no-flow periods by duration, proportion of no-flow days, median non-zero daily flow, mean and median annual flows, 10% daily flow exceedance days, and multi-year daily flow volumes (1.5, 5, 20 year). Schedule 5 then converts many of these indicators into target thresholds at specific nodes in the river system (sch 5). Practically, environmental management rules and licence conditions must be framed to preserve or achieve these metrics when tested under the prescribed simulation (ss 41-42, sch 5).
Water allocation security objectives and performance indicators. For supplemented surface water, the sole performance measures listed are an annual and monthly supplemented water sharing index (s 19). The statute does not give formulae for the indices in the excerpt; it requires that allocation decisions be consistent with the allocation security objectives (s 41). The prescribed simulation is the tool to assess consistency (s 42).
Prescribed assessment computer program and simulation period. The instrument makes the prescribed assessment computer program’s simulation the statutory mechanism to assess consistency with both environmental and allocation security objectives (s 42). An alternative method is permitted only with chief executive approval and only if the alternative is at least as accurate. Therefore the plan’s objectives are effectively operationalised through a particular simulation tool and its chosen simulation period (s 42, sch 5 references to "simulation period").
Categories of unallocated water and reserves. The statute divides unallocated water into indigenous, strategic and general reserves (s 28). Each reserve type has constrained purposes and statutory volumetric ceilings set in schedules: indigenous reserve grants to indigenous communities (s 32) with annual volumetric totals in schedule 6A (s 33); strategic reserve grants from Lake Mary Kathleen or for State purposes only with volumetric ceilings in schedule 7 (ss 34-37); general reserve grants for any purpose but with volumetric limits in schedule 8 and, in Flinders/Gilbert, conditions on transfers and pass flow requirements (ss 38-39A).
Supplemented vs unsupplemented surface water. The instrument distinguishes supplemented surface water (water managed or delivered by scheme infrastructure) from unsupplemented surface water (natural streamflows). Different decision criteria and rule considerations apply to each category. For example, infrastructure operating rules apply to supplemented systems (s 46); water sharing rules must consider linkage of supply arrangements to natural streamflows for supplemented water (s 24); and section 56 creates a limited stock and domestic right to take unsupplemented surface water outside supplemented zones.
Licence content and limits. Water licences for taking unsupplemented surface water must state purpose, maximum rate, daily and annual volumetric limits, and any conditions (s 70). The statute creates default calculation methods where licences or development permits specify pump sizes, referring to an administrative schedule (schedule 12) for rates and daily volumes (ss 72-73). Where no express measures exist, the chief executive decides the limits having regard to the licence nature and measurements or estimates (ss 72-74). Licence conditions may be used to implement environmental management, infrastructure operating or water sharing rules (s 77), and the chief executive may impose such conditions to ensure plan outcomes (s 75).
Transitional and notice regimes. The text preserves certain pre-existing uses by existing bore owners or owners of overland flow works for a defined period, pending licence grants, provided notice is given to the chief executive (ss 60, 79). In many cases the transitional period is one year from plan commencement unless notice is lodged and a licence subsequently granted (ss 60-61, 79-80).
Localised groundwater management areas. The instrument imposes locally specific prohibitions in the Nicholson and Einasleigh groundwater management areas,only stock/domestic, monitoring/salinity control or licensed/permit-taking is permitted (s 84). Licences in these two areas must state purpose and annual volumetric limit (s 85), and the chief executive may amend existing licences to add annual volumetric limits with specific factors to be considered (s 87).
Limits on impoundment/works that interfere with flow. Applications for licences to impound flow (s 206 of the Act) are limited to enumerated purposes (s 43(2)), must be justified as necessary and storage limited to no more than necessary having regard to detailed environmental and supply impacts (s 43(3)). There are hard caps in particular categories (s 43(4)) and special licence conditions for general-reserve related licences in Flinders/Gilbert (s 43(5), s 39A).
Overland flow water controls and code linkage. Taking overland flow water is principally prohibited except in listed circumstances (s 78). The term contaminated agricultural run-off water is defined with reference to a Code available on the department’s website, invoking an external administrative document to set a statutory exception (s 78).
Each concept operates through conditional duties on the chief executive, licence holders and applicants. The chief executive is repeatedly the decision-maker: required to consider particular environmental and social matters (s 23), to set and enforce conditions consistent with rules (s 77), to decide volumetric and rate limits where the licence does not specify them (ss 72-74), and to approve alternatives to prescribed processes (s 42). Licence holders bear the compliance burden of limits, notice and reporting requirements (s 88), and technical compliance with pump sizes or professional engineer certificates when requested (s 80).
Who it affects
This instrument redistributes rights and administrative responsibilities across several clearly identifiable groups. The statutory text names the actors and, in many places, prescribes who must act, who decides, and who bears particular burdens.
Water users and prospective users. Individuals or entities that take water for stock, domestic, irrigation, agricultural or other uses are directly affected. For unsupplemented surface water, licences must specify purpose, maximum rate and volumetric limits (ss 70-74). Owners of existing bores that were taking declared water before plan commencement may continue using their bores only for a transitional period and subject to notice and later licence grant (ss 60-61). Owners of existing overland flow works are similarly given a one-year transitional period and may continue if they give notice and obtain a licence (ss 79-80). These provisions change legal entitlements and create administrative steps to retain use.
Indigenous communities referenced in schedule coverage. The statute expressly creates indigenous reserves of unallocated water and restricts grants from those reserves to projects helping indigenous communities to achieve economic and social aspirations in specific regions (s 32, s 33). Indigenous community groups or organisations in the Cape York Peninsula, Flinders, Gilbert, Morning Inlet, Settlement Creek, Staaten and Gregory River areas are therefore potential beneficiaries of indigenous reserve allocations but also parties with standing in how those reserves are allocated.
Applicants for strategic or State-purpose water allocations. Strategic reserves may be granted only from Lake Mary Kathleen for any purpose or elsewhere for State purposes (s 34). Strategic State-purpose grants are time-limited to the life of coordinated projects or projects of regional significance (s 37). Applicants proposing coordinated projects or projects of regional significance, or State agencies seeking water for State purposes, are the intended users of strategic unallocated water and will be subject to volumetric limits in schedules (ss 35-37).
Licence holders in the Flinders and Gilbert catchments. The general reserve in those catchments has specific conditionality: licences must include at least one pass flow condition and specify water transfers to follow group B transfer rules (s 39A). Licence holders and potential buyers/sellers in those transfer markets are therefore affected by transfer restrictions and flow-protection conditions.
Chief executive and department staff. The chief executive (departmental decision-maker) is repeatedly given duties to consider enumerated matters when drafting environmental management rules, infrastructure operating rules, water sharing rules, when approving alternative assessment methods, when authorising impoundments, and when amending and granting licences (ss 23-24, 42, 43, 46, 72-77). The executive also carries the administrative burden of maintaining or operating the prescribed assessment computer program and evaluating simulations, considering notices and professional certificates, and monitoring compliance where required (s 42, s 80, s 88).
Infrastructure operators and scheme licence holders. Holders of resource operations licences for water supply schemes (for example Julius Dam and Moondarra Dam schemes) are carved out in the stock and domestic right provision: parts of watercourses used for distribution by a scheme licence holder are not covered by the general stock/domestic use right in s 56. These operators therefore retain distribution control and may be responsible for supplemented zones mapping included in the resource operations plan (s 56).
Developers and permit applicants. Development permits and their stated pump sizes feed into statutory calculations for maximum rates and daily volumetric limits for unsupplemented licences (ss 72-73). Developers who obtain permits with pump size specifications create default hydrological ceilings that affect future licence conditions and operational flexibility.
Owners or operators of overland flow works and existing overland flow works. The Act restricts new unlicensed taking of overland flow (s 78) and creates a transitional path for existing works that do not fall within the small-capacity exemptions, conditional on providing notice and potentially technical certification (ss 79-80). These owners must account for average annual volumes historically taken and be prepared to provide engineering certificates.
Groundwater users in Nicholson and Einasleigh groundwater management areas. Those areas are subject to tighter restrictions: groundwater may not be taken except for stock/domestic, monitoring/salinity control or under licence/permit (s 84). Licence holders in those areas must have licences stating the purpose and annual volumetric limit (s 85), and existing licence holders may face amendment to impose limits based on criteria including pre-2003 use and pumping tests (s 87).
Environmental, cultural and recreational interest groups. The chief executive must consider a list of environmental and cultural matters when deciding rules and licence conditions (s 23). While the statute does not create direct decision-making power for these groups, it mandates that the decision-maker consider their interests, meaning these groups are stakeholder classes to be accommodated through administrative processes and rule drafting.
Who pays and bears the regulatory burden. The principal economic costs fall on licence applicants and existing water users who must:
Prepare and lodge notices to preserve existing uses (ss 60, 79).
Provide technical information, such as pump size details in development permits, pumping test results, or engineer certificates, on request (ss 72-73, 80, 87).
Accept licence conditions that may limit rates, daily and annual volumes, require monitoring and reporting, or provide alternative water supplies to affected parties (ss 75, 76, 88).
Where water is allocated from indigenous or strategic reserves, applicants may need to meet the purposes and project-life constraints (ss 32, 34, 37).
Decision authority. The chief executive is the statutory decision-maker for the substantive administrative choices: drafting rules in the resource operations plan, approving or imposing licence conditions, deciding volumetric and rate limits in many circumstances, approving alternative assessment methods, and determining whether particular projects are of regional significance (ss 23-24, 42, 72-77, 27). Practitioners must therefore engage with the chief executive’s processes and evidence expectations to influence outcomes.
Key duties and rights
The statutory text creates a network of duties for the chief executive and rights and obligations for water users. Below are the principal legal duties and user rights established in the text, with section references.
Chief executive duties
Rule-making considerations. When deciding environmental management rules to include in the resource operations plan, the chief executive must consider specified streamflow, connectivity, habitat and groundwater matters and the impacts that taking or interfering with water may have on water quality, sediment movement, beds and banks, inundation of habitats, movement of aquatic fauna, recreational/aesthetic values and cultural values (s 23). Subsection (2) notes the list is not exhaustive, but the listed topics are mandatory considerations.
Water sharing rules. For water sharing rules, the chief executive must consider any existing rules and various resource- and supply-related factors, including the frequency, duration and magnitude of limited water availability for supplemented water, and local availability, conditions, daily and annual volumetric limits and impacts on authorisations for unsupplemented water and groundwater (s 24).
Approvals and assessments. The chief executive must use the prescribed assessment computer program’s simulation to assess consistency with environmental flow and allocation security objectives, and may approve another method only if it is at least as accurate (s 42).
Licence content and amendment. The chief executive must ensure water licences are amended or granted to be consistent with the plan’s requirements. For existing licences to take declared water, the chief executive must amend them to be consistent with subdivision 4 for unsupplemented surface water (s 59). The chief executive must grant licences under s 212 of the Act to persons authorised to continue taking declared water (s 61).
Discretion to set limits and conditions. The chief executive decides maximum rates, daily and annual volumetric limits where licences do not state them, having regard to the licence nature, pump sizes in development permits, estimates or measurements, pump capacity, efficiency and historical use (ss 72-74). The chief executive may impose any condition necessary to ensure the plan’s purposes and outcomes are achieved (s 75). The chief executive may also impose conditions specifying works that may be used to store water and must consider existing overland flow capacity when doing so (s 76). Conditions must give effect to environmental management, infrastructure operating and water sharing rules; the chief executive must amend existing licences and impose conditions on new licences to carry the rules into effect (s 77).
Special duties in infrastructure decisions. For water licences to interfere with or impound flow, the chief executive must be satisfied the proposed interference is necessary for an enumerated set of purposes and that proposed storage capacity is no greater than necessary having regard to specific environmental and supply impacts (s 43). The chief executive must also consider fish kill likelihood and impacts of transfers between watercourses when drafting infrastructure operating rules (s 46).
User rights and entitlements
Transitional continuity for existing use. Owners of existing bores that were taking declared water but previously not requiring licences may continue that use for one year after plan commencement, or longer if they give notice in the approved form and await grant of a water licence under s 61 (s 60). Owners of existing overland flow works have comparable transitional protection (s 79).
Right to be granted a licence after notice. The chief executive must grant a water licence to persons authorised under ss 60 or 89 to continue taking water, subject to being consistent with the subdivision rules; annual volumetric limits for those licences must equal the relevant historic (pre-2003) volumes for declared water bores (ss 61, 60, 89-90).
Stock and domestic use. Section 56 allows the owner of land to take water for stock or domestic purposes from a watercourse, lake or spring in the plan area, except where the watercourse is part of a supplemented distribution zone by a scheme licence holder. The resource operations plan contains maps of supplemented zones (s 56).
Licence content specification rights. Where a development permit states a pump size included in schedule 12, a licence-holder may rely on the schedule’s prescribed rate and daily volumetric limit calculations unless the licence-holder satisfies the chief executive that the actual capacity differs, in which case the chief executive must consider specified evidence (ss 72-73).
Purpose labelling. The statute standardises licence purpose labelling; licences that are rural uses must be labelled ‘rural’, licences for dewatering must label ‘dewatering’, and others ‘any’ (ss 71, 86).
Obligations on licence-holders and applicants
Compliance with conditions. Licence-holders must comply with conditions imposed to give effect to rules, including flow and storage conditions, pass flow conditions in Flinders/Gilbert licences, transfer rules for group B transfers, and monitoring/reporting duties that may be imposed on groundwater licences (ss 39A, 43, 75, 88).
Notice and technical evidence. Existing bore or overland works owners who wish to continue use must provide notice in the approved form (ss 60, 79). The chief executive may require professional engineer certificates about works’ capacity and take rate when granting or amending licences for overland flow works (s 80). Licence amendment decisions in groundwater management areas may take into account pumping test results if available (s 87).
Limit adherence. Licence-holders are bound by the maximum rates, daily volumetric limits and annual volumetric limits stated on the licence or decided by the chief executive (ss 72-74). The chief executive must ensure daily limits do not exceed the total volume that could be taken at the maximum rate for the licence (s 73(3)).
Rights and constraints with respect to unallocated water
Conditional grant rights. Applicants may seek water from indigenous, strategic or general reserves, but each reserve has statutory constraints: indigenous unallocated water may only be granted to help indigenous communities achieve economic and social aspirations in named areas (s 32), strategic reserve grants are limited to Lake Mary Kathleen or State purposes and time-bound for project life (ss 34-37), and general reserves are available for any purpose but subject to volumetric limits (ss 38-39). Schedule entries provide the numerical ceilings (ss 33, 35-36, 39).
Enforcement and legal operation
The text establishes prohibitions (for example s 78 on overland flow; s 84 on groundwater in named management areas) and specifies licensing pathways for continued use or to lawfully take water. The excerpt does not itself list detailed offence penalties; enforcement will operate through the licensing and amendment powers in the Act (see cross-references such as ss 206, 212, 217 of the Act referenced in the text). Practitioners should therefore consult the parent Act for precise offence and penalty provisions referenced in the instrument.
Taken together, the duties concentrate decision-making discretion with the chief executive while creating specific statutory entitlements for particular existing users and specified classes of applicants. The instrument places technical evidentiary obligations on applicants and licence-holders and directs that hydrological simulation be the primary test of consistency with the plan’s objectives (s 42).
Penalties and enforcement
The text excerpt provided primarily sets out prohibitions, licensing pathways, duties, and administrative requirements rather than detailed penalty schedules. Enforcement in practice will operate through licence conditions, amendments and the Act’s general enforcement architecture as referenced. Key enforcement-relevant features present in the text are as follows.
Prohibitions that trigger enforcement mechanisms. The instrument contains express prohibitions on certain water-taking activities. For example, in the Nicholson and Einasleigh groundwater management areas, a person may not take or interfere with groundwater except for stock/domestic use, monitoring/salinity control or under licence or permit (s 84). Section 78 prohibits taking overland flow water except in enumerated circumstances (stock/domestic, small-capacity works up to 250 ML, under a water licence, limited quantities for regulatory authorities, contaminated agricultural run-off, or under an authority under s 79). These statutory prohibitions create the trigger points for enforcement action if the Act’s general offence provisions apply.
Administrative enforcement via licence conditions and amendments. Much of the instrument’s operational effect is exercised by imposing licence conditions or amending existing licences to give effect to rules. The chief executive must amend existing licences at commencement to impose conditions giving effect to environmental management rules, infrastructure operating rules or water sharing rules included in the resource operations plan and must impose such conditions on licences issued after commencement (s 77). Where conditions are imposed or licences amended, contravention of licence conditions typically falls within licensing enforcement powers in the parent Act; the instrument itself instructs the chief executive to use that mechanism rather than specify fines or criminal sanctions.
Transitional authorisations with conditional continuance. Existing users of declared water, existing water bores and existing overland flow works are permitted temporary continuance of use (ss 60, 79). That continuance is conditional on providing notice in an approved form and later acquiring a licence consistent with the subdivision (ss 60-61, 79-80). Failure to provide required notices or to obtain the eventual licence will remove the transitional legal cover and may expose a user to enforcement if the taking continues outside an authorised pathway.
Specific licence content that facilitates monitoring and enforcement. The statute requires licences to state maximum rates, daily volumetric limits and annual volumetric limits where applicable (s 70). The chief executive may require engineer certificates about works capacity and take rates when following the process for granting or amending licences replacing overland flow authorities (s 80). Groundwater licences in Nicholson and Einasleigh management areas may be imposed with conditions to carry out and report monitoring activities and to provide access to alternative water supplies for adversely affected persons (s 88). These information and reporting obligations are enforcement-relevant because they provide the administrative basis to check compliance.
Use of the prescribed assessment computer program. The instrument mandates that consistency with environmental flow objectives and allocation security objectives be assessed using a prescribed assessment computer program’s simulation (s 42). The simulation outputs are therefore the operational standard against which proposed allocations and infrastructure changes are measured. Reliance on a prescribed simulation creates an enforcement hinge point: if proposed activities would, in simulation, breach schedule thresholds, the activity can be refused or licence conditions imposed to prevent the breach (s 41-42, sch 5). The statute allows an alternative method only if the chief executive is satisfied it is at least as accurate, which centralises assessment authority.
Cross-references to the parent Act for grant and amendment powers. The provision for the chief executive to grant licences under particular circumstances references section 212 of the parent Act (ss 61, 90) and the amendment power references section 217 (s 87). Enforcement penalties, inspection powers, compliance notices and infringements normally reside in the parent Act. Because the instrument repeatedly invokes the parent Act for grant and amendment procedures, enforcement actions will typically be effected through the Act’s statutory regime rather than through the instrument itself.
Absence in the excerpt of explicit financial penalties or criminal offence text. The provided text does not contain explicit penalty scales, fine amounts or criminal offence definitions tied directly to specific contraventions. For precise connection to fines, prosecutions, enforcement notices, directions or seizure powers, the parent Act and associated regulations must be consulted because those instruments typically contain the enforcement machinery referenced in this resource operations plan (the instrument repeatedly references licence grant/amendment provisions in the Act such as ss 206, 212, 217).
Practical enforcement implications for users and advisors
Licence compliance will be the principal enforcement channel. Because the instrument creates detailed licence content rules (ss 70-76) and requires amendment of existing licences to give effect to rules (s 77), enforcement will often take the form of compliance action for breach of licence conditions.
Technical monitoring obligations and engineer certificates create evidentiary pathways for enforcement. The chief executive’s power to require pumping tests, professional certificates and ongoing monitoring reports (ss 80, 87, 88) gives the regulator factual tools to determine non-compliance.
The prescribed simulation is both a planning and enforcement tool. Proposals that, when simulated, would breach schedule 5 targets are susceptible to refusal or to imposition of conditions to avoid breaches. Applicants should therefore build simulation-based compliance strategies.
Transitional notices are administratively critical. Failure to provide notices required to preserve pre-existing use entitlements (ss 60, 79, 89) may remove lawful continuance, exposing the user to enforcement if taking continues.
For precise penalty pathways and enforcement steps, consult the parent Act provisions cited in this instrument which set out the grant/amendment regimes and likely enforcement powers (see references within the instrument to ss 206, 212, 217 of the Act, and the Environmental Protection Act 1994 linkage in s 78).
In short, this instrument enforces its objectives primarily through licence design, amendment and conditions enforced under the parent Act’s administrative enforcement regime. The statutory reliance on simulation outputs and on licence content places technical and monitoring duties on licence-holders that are central to practical enforcement.
How it interacts with other laws
The text repeatedly cross-references the parent Act, subordinate regulations and other statutes, creating a framework in which the resource operations plan operates as a regulatory instrument that sits within a larger statutory architecture. The primary interactions visible in the provided text are as follows.
Parent Act interactions. Multiple provisions in this instrument reference provisions of the parent Act for grant and amendment powers. For example, the text explicitly applies to applications made under section 206 of the Act for water licences to interfere with surface water by impounding flow (s 43). It directs the chief executive to grant water licences under section 212 of the Act to persons authorised by transitional provisions (ss 61, 90). It also refers to section 217 of the Act as the power under which the chief executive may amend licences to state annual volumetric limits (s 87). Those references show the instrument depends on the parent Act’s licence grant and amendment machinery rather than inventing an independent licencing regime.
Water Regulation 2016. The instrument delegates procedural detail for granting unallocated water to the Water Regulation 2016, part 2, division 2, subdivision 2 (s 29). Thus the Act’s policy choices about allocation categories are operationalised by regulatory processes set out in the Water Regulation. Practitioners must consult that Regulation for the precise process, timeframes and administrative steps to obtain unallocated water.
Environmental Protection Act 1994. Section 78 permits taking overland flow water up to a quantity needed to satisfy requirements of an environmental authority or a development permit for an environmentally relevant activity under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. Thus compliance with the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and its permitting outcomes can create an exception to the overland flow prohibitions in s 78. The instrument therefore intersects with environmental permitting for activities that are assessed under that Act.
External administrative instruments and codes. The instrument incorporates or references external administrative documents. For instance, “contaminated agricultural run-off water” is defined with reference to the “Code for Assessable Development for Operational Works for Taking Overland Flow Water,” which is available on the department’s website (s 78). This creates a statutory dependence on an external code as part of the legal definition and exceptions regime.
Resource operations plan as subordinate instrument. The instrument makes numerous references to “the resource operations plan” and requires the chief executive to include environmental management rules, infrastructure operating rules and water sharing rules in that plan and then to impose conditions on licences to give effect to those rules (s 77). In practice, the resource operations plan is a subordinated statutory instrument that sits between the high-level objectives in the Act and the operational licence decisions administered by the department. Licence-holders and applicants must therefore consult the resource operations plan text and its attachments (for example maps of supplemented zones mentioned in s 56) as an integral part of compliance.
Licensing and development permit interface. The statute links development permits and stated pump sizes to licence rate and daily volumetric limit calculations via schedule 12 references (ss 72-73). That creates a direct interaction between development approvals (often administered under planning or development Acts/regulations) and the water licencing regime. Developers seeking particular pump sizes in a development permit will create default volumetric ceilings in subsequent licences unless they supply countervailing evidence to the chief executive.
Interaction with traditional owners’ cultural values. Section 23 requires the chief executive to consider cultural values including, for example, cultural values of local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities when drafting environmental management rules. While not specifying a statutory right of veto, the instrument imposes an interdependency between cultural heritage considerations and water law decision-making.
Transfer rules and market interaction. The instrument mandates that transfers of water entitlements under some general reserves in Flinders and Gilbert catchments must be conducted in accordance with group B water transfer rules (s 39A). Those transfer rules are part of the resource operations plan’s operational regime and will interact with registration, trading and market arrangements that the wider statutory regime establishes.
Use of prescribed assessment computer program. The mandated use of a prescribed assessment computer program (s 42) means that environmental flow and allocation security objectives are operationalised through a central modelling tool. This integrates the plan with any legal or regulatory standards that rely on model outputs, requiring alignment with the parent Act’s compliance outcomes and likely with environmental assessment rules and standards.
Taken together, the instrument is not stand-alone. Its operation depends on:
licensing and amendment powers contained in the parent Act (ss 206, 212, 217 references);
procedural rules contained in the Water Regulation 2016 (s 29);
the Environmental Protection Act 1994 for certain overland flow exceptions (s 78);
external administrative codes and the resource operations plan attachments (s 56, s 78, s 80); and
planning/development permit regimes that specify pump sizes which then feed into licence calculations (ss 72-73).
Practitioners should therefore treat this plan as a layer in a multi-instrument compliance matrix. To understand full legal obligations and potential enforcement routes, one must read the parent Act provisions cited, the Water Regulation 2016 processes, any relevant resource operations plan text and attachments, the Environmental Protection Act 1994 where it is invoked, and the prescribed assessment computer program’s technical specifications.
Amendment history
The text contains inline amendment annotations. Below is a compilation of the amendment references that are present in the instrument excerpt. These annotations indicate that particular sections have been amended, substituted or omitted by subsequent legislation or statutory instruments. The compilation is restricted to the amendment citations as they appear in the text.
Section 17. Annotated as amended by 2015 SL No. 99 s 7 (s 17 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 7). The section text reflects that amendment in the listing of performance indicators.
Section 18. Annotated as amended by 2015 SL No. 99 s 8 (s 18 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 8).
Section 23. No explicit amendment citation in the immediate heading but the section includes an editorial note (sec.23-ssec.1 etc.) and the detailed provisions. The section appears in current form as presented.
Section 24. Annotated as amended by 2014 SL No. 142 s 115 (s 24 amd 2014 SL No. 142 s 115).
Sections 25-26. Each is annotated as omitted by 2014 SL No. 142 s 116 (s 25 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 116; s 26 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 116).
Section 28. Revised by multiple amendments: substituted by 2011 Act No. 40 s 102; amended by 2015 SL No. 99 s 10 (s 28 sub 2011 Act No. 40 s 102; 2015 SL No. 99 s 10).
Section 29. Subsection note that it was substituted by 2015 SL No. 99 s 10 and amended by 2016 SL No. 216 s 146 sch 20 (s 29 sub 2015 SL No. 99 s 10 amd 2016 SL No. 216 s 146 sch 20).
Section 30. Amended by 2015 SL No. 99 s 11 (s 30 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 11).
Section 31. Omitted by 2014 SL No. 142 s 117 (s 31 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 117).
Section 32. Amended by 2011 Act No. 40 s 103; 2014 Act No. 40 s 154 sch 1 pt 3; and 2015 SL No. 99 s 12 (s 32 amd 2011 Act No. 40 s 103; 2014 Act No. 40 s 154 sch 1 pt 3; 2015 SL No. 99 s 12).
Section 33. Amended by 2011 Act No. 40 s 104; and 2015 SL No. 99 s 13 (s 33 amd 2011 Act No. 40 s 104; 2015 SL No. 99 s 13).
Section 34. Amended by 2015 SL No. 99 s 14 (s 34 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 14).
Section 35. Substituted by 2015 SL No. 99 s 15 (s 35 sub 2015 SL No. 99 s 15).
Section 36. Amended by 2015 SL No. 99 s 16 (s 36 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 16).
Section 37. Amended by 2015 SL No. 99 s 17 (s 37 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 17).
Section 38. Appears in original form as provided.
Section 39. Amended by 2015 SL No. 99 s 18 (s 39 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 18).
Section 39A. Inserted by 2015 SL No. 99 s 19 (s 39A ins 2015 SL No. 99 s 19).
Section 40. Appears as amending note: s 40 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 119 (s 40 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 119).
Section 41. Present in current form.
Section 42. Amended by 2015 SL No. 99 s 20 (s 42 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 20).
Section 43. Amended by 2015 SL No. 99 s 21 and 2016 SL No. 216 s 146 sch 20 (s 43 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 21; 2016 SL No. 216 s 146 sch 20).
Sections 44-45. Omitted by 2014 SL No. 142 s 119 (s 44 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 119; s 45 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 119).
Section 46. Amended by 2014 SL No. 142 s 120 (s 46 amd 2014 SL No. 142 s 120).
Sections 47-55. Omitted by 2014 SL No. 142 s 121-122 (various om notes).
Sections 56-61. Section 56 was inserted by 2015 SL No. 99 s 22 (pres s 56 ins 2015 SL No. 99 s 22). Section 59 was previously present and recast. Section 61 is present and linked to Act s 212.
Sections 62-68. A number of these sections are recorded as omitted by 2014 SL No. 142 s 123 (s 62-68 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 123).
Section 69. Amended by 2014 SL No. 142 s 124 (s 69 amd 2014 SL No. 142 s 124).
Sections 70-79. These sections exist in current form; s 78 has an amendment citation referencing 2013 Act No. 23 s 352 sch 1 pt 2. Section 79 is in current form.
Section 80. Amended by 2009 SL No. 280 s 180; 2011 Act No. 40 s 107 sch; omitted by 2016 SL No. 216 s 146 sch 20 (s 81 amd 2009 SL No. 280 s 180; 2011 Act No. 40 s 107 sch om 2016 SL No. 216 s 146 sch 20). Note: the s 81 line in the text appears to relate to amendment of a later section.
Sections 82-90. Section 83 has amendment notes spanning 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2015 and is noted as omitted by 2016 SL No. 216 s 146 sch 20 (s 83 amd 2009 SL No. 280 s 181; 2011 Act No. 40 s 107 sch; 2014 Act No. 29 s 152; 2015 SL No. 99 s 23 om 2016 SL No. 216 s 146 sch 20). Section 84 was amended by 2013 Act No. 23 s 352 sch 1 pt 2 (s 84 amd 2013 Act No. 23 s 352 sch 1 pt 2). Section 87 includes amendment references and cross-references to section 217 of the Act.
Schedule and other schedule amendments. The text shows schedule 5 as the locus of environmental flow objectives. Sections governing schedule entries (for example sch 5 entries) do not show separate amendment notes in the excerpt beyond those that touch sections referencing schedules.
This list records the amendment annotations visible in the instrument excerpt. It demonstrates that the plan has been the subject of multiple updates over time by regulation and statute, including statutory instruments with short titles "SL" (Statutory Legislation, likely subordinate legislation) and entries described as Acts. Practitioners should consult the consolidated version of the statute and any legislative amendments or regulatory instruments cited to confirm the current text, because the instrument contains multiple substitution and omission notes (for example, many sections omitted by 2014 SL No. 142 and by 2016 SL No. 216 sch 20).
For precise legislative chronology and authoritative text, the practitioner should review:
the parent Act's consolidated version;
the cited amending Acts and statutory instruments (for example 2011 Act No. 40; 2013 Act No. 23; 2014 SL No. 142; 2015 SL No. 99; 2016 SL No. 216); and
the Water Regulation 2016 and schedules referenced by the instrument.
The excerpt itself embeds the amendment metadata necessary to trace which provisions were substituted, inserted or omitted by named instruments and sections.
Litigation history
The excerpt provided contains no references to judicial decisions, appeals, or case law. No cases are cited in the instrument text, and no section records judicial interpretation or litigation outcomes. Consequently:
There is no litigation history recorded or summarised in the instrument excerpt.
The statutory text refers to administrative functions (chief executive decision-making, licence grants, amendments and obligations) but does not cite judicial interpretations or cases that have clarified application of the provisions.
Where the instrument cross-references the parent Act (for licence grant and amendment powers) and the Environmental Protection Act 1994, any litigation relevant to applying this instrument would typically arise under those statutes or in judicial review of administrative decisions that implement the instrument’s rules.
Practical implications for practitioners
Absence of judicial guidance in the text means interpretation risk will fall to administrative practice and, if contested, judicial review or merits appeals under the parent Act’s review provisions. Because the instrument delegates significant discretion to the chief executive (for example, approval of alternative assessment methods, deciding volumetric limits where not stated, and imposing necessary conditions), areas likely to attract litigation include:
challenges to the adequacy or fairness of modelling assumptions in the prescribed assessment computer program or to the chief executive’s approval of an alternative assessment method (s 42);
disputes about whether licence conditions imposed are “necessary” to achieve plan purposes (s 75), including whether a condition causes economic hardship for existing licence-holders;
disagreements over the calculation of maximum rates and volumetric limits derived from pump sizes or historical usage (ss 72-74, ss 60-61, 87);
challenges to amendments of existing licences under the chief executive’s powers (s 77, s 87), particularly where additions of volumetric limits or flow conditions materially alter users’ entitlements.
Until judicial decisions develop, administrative record-keeping and technical evidence will shape outcomes. Because many elements of the plan’s operation turn on hydrological simulation outputs and professional engineering certificates (s 42, s 80), the evidential record submitted to the decision-maker will be the primary source for both outcome and potential review.
Where a practitioner needs precedent or interpretation, they must consult case law under the parent Act and relevant judicial review principles concerning administrative discretions, statutory interpretation of environmental statutes, and any published decisions involving resource operations plans in the same jurisdiction. The instrument itself contains no litigation narrative to guide interpretation.
In short, the statutory instrument as provided supplies the legal structure and technical thresholds but does not provide litigation-derived interpretive guidance. Practitioners should plan for administrative fact-intensive disputes and be prepared to support applications or challenges with rigorous hydrological modelling, engineer certifications and documentation of historical use.
Gotchas
The statute contains a number of provisions that create implementation and compliance traps if overlooked. These are practical items that commonly drive disputes, administrative delays and unintended loss of rights. Each item below is grounded in the text.
Simulation as binding assessment tool (s 42). The prescribed assessment computer program’s simulation is the default and intended mechanism to test consistency with environmental flow and water allocation security objectives. If applicants fail to use the prescribed simulation or to demonstrate equivalence for an alternative method, their assessment may be rejected. The chief executive may approve alternatives only if satisfied they are at least as accurate, centralising technical gatekeeping.
Numerical schedule thresholds are applied at named nodes (sch 5). Schedule 5 sets node-specific numeric targets and limits (for example no. of no-flow periods at node 1, proportion of no-flow days at nodes 6 and 7, percentage targets for mean and median annual flows and multi-year flow volumes). Applications that would, in simulation, result in breaches of those thresholds can be refused or conditioned. The target percentages and count limits are binding operational tests in the plan (sch 5).
Chief executive discretion over key parameters (ss 72-74). Where licences do not state explicit maximum rates, daily or annual volumetric limits, the chief executive decides those figures having regard to pump size, historical usage and estimates. Applicants relying on implied assumptions in development permits without robust supporting evidence risk having limits imposed that differ from expectations. If a licence-holder can satisfy the chief executive that actual pump capacity differs from schedule figures, then a different rate may be set, but the evidentiary burden rests with the licence-holder (ss 72-73).
Transitional continuance deadlines and notice forms (ss 60, 79, 89). Existing bore and overland flow users get one year of continuation unless they give notice in the approved form and later obtain a licence. Failure to lodge the required notice or to pursue the licence will remove the transitional cover. The “approved form” requirement can be a procedural trap if the notice is defective, late or incomplete.
Historical use caps tied to pre-2003 volumes (ss 60, 89, 87). The “relevant annual volumetric limit” for existing declared water bores or existing water bores in the Einasleigh area is defined as the volume taken before 17 October 2003. Licence-holders thinking they can rely on recent higher use levels risk disappointment; the statutory benchmark is a specific historic cut-off.
Pass flow conditions and transfer restrictions in Flinders/Gilbert (ss 39A, 43(5)). Any general reserve water entitlement granted from the Flinders or Gilbert catchments must include at least one pass flow condition and transfers must be carried out under group B water transfer rules (s 39A). Applicants must factor pass flow obligations into operational design and transfer strategies.
Storage capacity caps for impoundments (s 43(4)). Applications to impound flow for certain purposes are expressly not to be granted where the proposed storage capacity exceeds 10 ML for pumping pool-related purposes or 250 ML for other non-entitlement storage purposes. Applicants seeking larger storages must therefore justify them under different statutory pathways or State-purpose allocations.
Overland flow prohibition with exceptions (s 78). A person may not take overland flow water except in enumerated circumstances: stock/domestic, small-capacity works up to 250 ML, under a water licence, to satisfy environmental authority or development permit requirements under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, contaminated agricultural run-off, or under authority under s 79. Practitioners must check whether their intended activity fits an exception, and if relying on contaminated agricultural runoff, they must consult the Code referenced by the department.
External code and plan attachments matter. The definition of contaminated agricultural run-off water is not fully in the statute but contained in a Code available on the department website (s 78). Maps of supplemented zones in the resource operations plan attachment 3 determine where stock/domestic rights under s 56 do and do not apply. Failure to consult these external materials is a common compliance pitfall.
Monitoring and alternative water supply obligations (s 88). Groundwater licences in the Nicholson and Einasleigh areas may include conditions requiring the licence-holder to provide access to alternative water supplies for persons significantly adversely affected and to carry out monitoring and reporting. Licence-holders can thereby face ongoing obligations and potential third-party liability if they do not maintain alternative supply access where required.
Requirements to provide professional engineering certificates (s 80). The resource operations plan process for granting or amending licences related to existing overland flow works may allow the chief executive to require a professional engineer’s certificate about works’ capacity and take rate. Applicants who cannot obtain or produce credible engineering evidence face delays or adverse licence settings.
Interaction with development permits and pump-size schedules (ss 72-73; schedule 12 referred). Development permit pump sizes drive default licence rate and daily volumetric limit calculations under schedule 12. If a development permit contains an incorrect or optimistic pump size, the licence will likely be limited by the schedule’s conservative default unless the licence-holder produces technical evidence to the contrary.
Absence of penalty specifics in the excerpt. The instrument does not specify penalty amounts; enforcement likely proceeds under the parent Act’s enforcement provisions referenced in the text (ss 206, 212, 217). Practitioners should not assume leniency or particular penalty scales without consulting the parent Act.
State-purpose and project-life limitations for strategic water (ss 34-37). Grants of strategic water for State purposes are time-limited to project life and return to reserve on project conclusion. Applicants seeking long-term security must therefore ensure eligibility under different reserve categories or plan for return of water at project end.
Multiple cross-references to schedules and other instruments. The instrument disperses key data across schedules (5, 6A, 7, 8, 12) and other statutory/regulatory documents (Water Regulation 2016, Environmental Protection Act codes, resource operations plan attachments). Overlooking any of these materials can lead to misreading limits.
In sum, the common practical “gotchas” are procedural (notice forms, approved methods), evidentiary (pump capacity, engineer certificates, pumping tests), modelling (reliance on the prescribed simulation and schedule 5 outcomes), and substantive constraints (historical-use caps, storage caps, pass flow and transfer rules). Practitioners must compile a complete administrative dossier that addresses each of these statutory touchpoints before applying or continuing an existing use.
How to comply
This section sets out practical compliance steps grounded in the statutory text, structured as an actionable checklist for applicants, licence-holders and advisers. Each step references the statutory provision that creates the requirement or legal consequence.
Identify your water category and location
Determine whether the water you intend to take is supplemented surface water, unsupplemented surface water, unallocated water, declared groundwater, or overland flow. The statute treats each category differently (see s 40 for supplemented strategies and ss 70-76 for unsupplemented licences). If in doubt, consult the resource operations plan attachments for supplemented zones (s 56 references attachment 3).
Check reserve categorisation and volumetric ceilings
If seeking unallocated water, identify whether the water is in an indigenous, strategic or general reserve as defined in s 28. Check the relevant schedules for total annual volumetric limits (s 33 for indigenous reserves, sch 6A; ss 35-36 for strategic reserves, sch 7; s 39 for general reserves, sch 8). Confirm the permitted purposes: indigenous reserve grants are confined to assisting indigenous communities in named areas (s 32); strategic unallocated water is limited to Lake Mary Kathleen or State purposes (s 34) and strategic State-purpose grants return to the reserve on project completion (s 37).
Assess consistency with environmental flow and allocation security objectives
Use the prescribed assessment computer program’s simulation to test whether the proposed taking or infrastructure change is consistent with the environmental flow objectives and water allocation security objectives (s 42). The simulation must be for the statutory simulation period and evaluated against schedule 5 node-specific targets and other schedule thresholds. If you cannot use the prescribed program, seek chief executive approval for an alternative method and be prepared to demonstrate that it is at least as accurate (s 42).
Prepare technical evidence and modelling
Build the application around robust hydrological modelling and, where applicable, pumping test results. For licences where pump sizes are stated in development permits, schedule 12 determines default rates and daily volumetric limits; if you assert a different capacity, be prepared to substantiate that to the chief executive (ss 72-73). For overland flow works transitioning to licences, be ready to provide a registered professional engineer’s certificate about capacity and take rate if requested (s 80).
For existing users: lodge notices and prepare to convert to licences
Owners of existing bores or overland flow works who were taking water before plan commencement must provide notice in the approved form to continue use beyond the one-year transitional period (ss 60, 79, 89). Keep records proving historic use volumes, especially the relevant pre-2003 benchmarks used to set relevant annual volumetric limits for declared water bores (ss 60, 89, 87).
Design infrastructure and storage to statutory caps and environmental considerations
If seeking a licence to interfere with or impound flow, ensure the proposed purpose is one of the enumerated allowable purposes (s 43(2)) and the storage capacity is no greater than necessary given environmental and supply impacts (s 43(3)). Note absolute caps for particular purposes: not more than 10 ML for some pumping pool purposes and not more than 250 ML for certain storage purposes (s 43(4)). For Flinders and Gilbert catchment applications linked to the general reserve, include at least one pass flow condition in your design assumptions (s 43(5), s 39A).
Consider and address third-party effects
When applying for licences in areas where your taking could significantly adversely affect others, be prepared to provide or maintain access to alternative water supplies and to undertake ongoing monitoring and reporting if the chief executive imposes those conditions (s 88). Document the likely impact on other water entitlements and authorisations as part of your application (s 24(1)(b)(vi)).
Prepare to accept licence conditions designed to give effect to rules
Expect the chief executive to impose conditions that give effect to environmental management, infrastructure operating and water sharing rules included in the resource operations plan (s 77). Be prepared to negotiate the specifics but understand the statutory mandate is to implement the plan’s rules through licence conditions.
If relying on exceptions (overland flow or contaminated runoff), gather documentary proof
The statutory exceptions in s 78 for overland flow depend on capacity thresholds, environmental authorities under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, or compliance with the Code for Assessable Development for Operational Works for Taking Overland Flow Water. Obtain copies of relevant environmental authorities, development permits, and conformity certificates under the Code.
Engage early with the chief executive/department
Given the central role of the chief executive in approving alternative assessment methods, setting limits where licences are silent, requiring certificates, and amending licences, early consultation is prudent. Seek pre-application advice on modelling expectations, relevant schedules, and the resource operations plan attachment maps.
Comply with licence monitoring, reporting and record-keeping obligations
Where licences include conditions for monitoring, reporting or maintaining access to alternative supplies, implement a compliance regime to produce required reports and to demonstrate ongoing conformity to limits and flow conditions. Maintain pump size and rate documentation, meter readings, engineer reports, and hydrological model inputs/outputs.
Prepare for transfer constraints
If you intend to trade water entitlements in the Flinders or Gilbert catchments, review group B water transfer rules and the statutory requirement that transfers occur in accordance with them (s 39A). Ensure your transfer proposal can meet pass flow condition requirements and that transfers do not breach plan outcomes.
Track statutory amendments and schedule values
The instrument has been amended repeatedly (see amendment notes). Monitor the consolidated statute and relevant subordinate instruments for changes to reserve definitions, volumetric ceilings and schedule targets. Changes to schedule 5 target percentages or to schedule volumetric caps will materially affect entitlement strategies.
For project proponents seeking strategic or State-purpose water
Confirm whether your project qualifies as a coordinated project or a project of regional significance (s 27) and prepare the economic and social impact evidence the chief executive may regard as relevant. Understand that strategic State-purpose water grants are for project life only and will revert to reserve on project conclusion (s 37).
Seek legal and technical advice for disputes or unusual cases
Where the chief executive exercises discretion or imposes conditions that materially alter entitlements, consider legal advice about administrative review or merits review options under the parent Act, and technical advice to prepare the modelling and engineer certifications likely to be determinative in such reviews.
This compliance checklist translates the statutory duties and procedural requirements into practical steps. The common thread is evidentiary preparation: robust hydrological modelling using the prescribed simulation, technical proofs of pump or works capacity, clear notice and historical-use documentation where transitional rights are claimed, and early engagement with the decision-maker to smooth the application pathway and reduce the risk of adverse licence conditions.
The environmental flow objectives for surface water in the plan area are stated in schedule 5 .
s 18 amd 2015 SL No. 99 s 8
ch.4-pt.2 Water allocation security objectives
Water allocation security objectives
sec.19 Performance indicators for water allocation security objectives
sec.19 Performance indicators for water allocation security objectives
The performance indicators for the water allocation security objectives for taking supplemented surface water are—
annual supplemented water sharing index; and
monthly supplemented water sharing index.
(a) annual supplemented water sharing index; and
(b) monthly supplemented water sharing index.
sec.20 Water allocation security objectives
sec.20 Water allocation security objectives
The water allocation security objectives for supplemented surface water in the Upper Leichhardt River subcatchment area are stated in schedule 6 .
ch.5-pt.1 Strategies for both surface water and groundwater
Strategies for both surface water and groundwater
ch.5-pt.1-div.1 Preliminary
Preliminary
sec.21 Application of pt 1
sec.21 Application of pt 1
This part applies to both surface water and groundwater.
Section sec.22
s 22 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 114
sec.23 Matters to be considered for environmental management rules
sec.23 Matters to be considered for environmental management rules
In deciding the environmental management rules to be included in the resource operations plan, the chief executive must consider—
the streamflows required to maintain the following—
the longitudinal connectivity of low flow habitats throughout river systems in the plan area;
the wetted habitats at riffles and other streambed features;
the natural seasonality of flows and zero flows;
the replenishment of refuge pools that enable movement of instream biota;
groundwater flows;
the contributions from aquifers to the flow of water in watercourses;
the lateral connectivity between rivers in the plan area and their adjacent riverine environments, including floodplains; and
the impact the taking of, or proposed taking of, or interfering with, water may have on the following—
water quality;
the natural movement of sediment;
the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake;
the inundation of habitats;
the movement of fish and other aquatic animals;
the recreation and aesthetic values of the plan area;
cultural values including, for example, cultural values of local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities.
Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.
(sec.23-ssec.1) In deciding the environmental management rules to be included in the resource operations plan, the chief executive must consider— the streamflows required to maintain the following— the longitudinal connectivity of low flow habitats throughout river systems in the plan area; the wetted habitats at riffles and other streambed features; the natural seasonality of flows and zero flows; the replenishment of refuge pools that enable movement of instream biota; groundwater flows; the contributions from aquifers to the flow of water in watercourses; the lateral connectivity between rivers in the plan area and their adjacent riverine environments, including floodplains; and the impact the taking of, or proposed taking of, or interfering with, water may have on the following— water quality; the natural movement of sediment; the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake; the inundation of habitats; the movement of fish and other aquatic animals; the recreation and aesthetic values of the plan area; cultural values including, for example, cultural values of local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities.
(sec.23-ssec.2) Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.
(a) the streamflows required to maintain the following— (i) the longitudinal connectivity of low flow habitats throughout river systems in the plan area; (ii) the wetted habitats at riffles and other streambed features; (iii) the natural seasonality of flows and zero flows; (iv) the replenishment of refuge pools that enable movement of instream biota; (v) groundwater flows; (vi) the contributions from aquifers to the flow of water in watercourses; (vii) the lateral connectivity between rivers in the plan area and their adjacent riverine environments, including floodplains; and
(i) the longitudinal connectivity of low flow habitats throughout river systems in the plan area;
(ii) the wetted habitats at riffles and other streambed features;
(iii) the natural seasonality of flows and zero flows;
(iv) the replenishment of refuge pools that enable movement of instream biota;
(v) groundwater flows;
(vi) the contributions from aquifers to the flow of water in watercourses;
(vii) the lateral connectivity between rivers in the plan area and their adjacent riverine environments, including floodplains; and
(b) the impact the taking of, or proposed taking of, or interfering with, water may have on the following— (i) water quality; (ii) the natural movement of sediment; (iii) the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake; (iv) the inundation of habitats; (v) the movement of fish and other aquatic animals; (vi) the recreation and aesthetic values of the plan area; (vii) cultural values including, for example, cultural values of local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities.
(i) water quality;
(ii) the natural movement of sediment;
(iii) the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake;
(iv) the inundation of habitats;
(v) the movement of fish and other aquatic animals;
(vi) the recreation and aesthetic values of the plan area;
(vii) cultural values including, for example, cultural values of local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities.
(i) the longitudinal connectivity of low flow habitats throughout river systems in the plan area;
(ii) the wetted habitats at riffles and other streambed features;
(iii) the natural seasonality of flows and zero flows;
(iv) the replenishment of refuge pools that enable movement of instream biota;
(v) groundwater flows;
(vi) the contributions from aquifers to the flow of water in watercourses;
(vii) the lateral connectivity between rivers in the plan area and their adjacent riverine environments, including floodplains; and
(i) water quality;
(ii) the natural movement of sediment;
(iii) the bed and banks of a watercourse or lake;
(iv) the inundation of habitats;
(v) the movement of fish and other aquatic animals;
(vi) the recreation and aesthetic values of the plan area;
(vii) cultural values including, for example, cultural values of local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities.
sec.24 Matters to be considered for water sharing rules
sec.24 Matters to be considered for water sharing rules
In deciding the water sharing rules to be included in the resource operations plan for authorisations to take water in a part of the plan area, the chief executive must consider—
for rules relating to supplemented surface water—
any existing water sharing rules; and
the extent to which any existing water supply arrangements are linked to the natural occurrence of streamflows; and
the frequency, duration, magnitude and timing of limited water availability; and
for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water or groundwater—
any existing water sharing arrangements; and
the local availability of water that may be taken from streamflows, waterholes, bed sands or aquifers; and
the conditions for taking water decided under section 75 ; and
the daily volumetric limits decided under section 73 ; and
the annual volumetric limits decided under section 74 or 87 ; and
the impact on authorisations to take water in the plan area; and
for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water in the bed sands of the Gilbert River between AMTD 317km and AMTD 263km—the water that is available for taking from the bed sands during periods when water ceases to flow over the bed sands.
Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.
s 24 amd 2014 SL No. 142 s 115
(sec.24-ssec.1) In deciding the water sharing rules to be included in the resource operations plan for authorisations to take water in a part of the plan area, the chief executive must consider— for rules relating to supplemented surface water— any existing water sharing rules; and the extent to which any existing water supply arrangements are linked to the natural occurrence of streamflows; and the frequency, duration, magnitude and timing of limited water availability; and for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water or groundwater— any existing water sharing arrangements; and the local availability of water that may be taken from streamflows, waterholes, bed sands or aquifers; and the conditions for taking water decided under section 75 ; and the daily volumetric limits decided under section 73 ; and the annual volumetric limits decided under section 74 or 87 ; and the impact on authorisations to take water in the plan area; and for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water in the bed sands of the Gilbert River between AMTD 317km and AMTD 263km—the water that is available for taking from the bed sands during periods when water ceases to flow over the bed sands.
(sec.24-ssec.2) Subsection (1) does not limit the matters the chief executive may consider.
(a) for rules relating to supplemented surface water— (i) any existing water sharing rules; and (ii) the extent to which any existing water supply arrangements are linked to the natural occurrence of streamflows; and (iii) the frequency, duration, magnitude and timing of limited water availability; and
(i) any existing water sharing rules; and
(ii) the extent to which any existing water supply arrangements are linked to the natural occurrence of streamflows; and
(iii) the frequency, duration, magnitude and timing of limited water availability; and
(b) for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water or groundwater— (i) any existing water sharing arrangements; and (ii) the local availability of water that may be taken from streamflows, waterholes, bed sands or aquifers; and (iii) the conditions for taking water decided under section 75 ; and (iv) the daily volumetric limits decided under section 73 ; and (v) the annual volumetric limits decided under section 74 or 87 ; and (vi) the impact on authorisations to take water in the plan area; and (vii) for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water in the bed sands of the Gilbert River between AMTD 317km and AMTD 263km—the water that is available for taking from the bed sands during periods when water ceases to flow over the bed sands.
(i) any existing water sharing arrangements; and
(ii) the local availability of water that may be taken from streamflows, waterholes, bed sands or aquifers; and
(iii) the conditions for taking water decided under section 75 ; and
(iv) the daily volumetric limits decided under section 73 ; and
(v) the annual volumetric limits decided under section 74 or 87 ; and
(vi) the impact on authorisations to take water in the plan area; and
(vii) for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water in the bed sands of the Gilbert River between AMTD 317km and AMTD 263km—the water that is available for taking from the bed sands during periods when water ceases to flow over the bed sands.
(i) any existing water sharing rules; and
(ii) the extent to which any existing water supply arrangements are linked to the natural occurrence of streamflows; and
(iii) the frequency, duration, magnitude and timing of limited water availability; and
(i) any existing water sharing arrangements; and
(ii) the local availability of water that may be taken from streamflows, waterholes, bed sands or aquifers; and
(iii) the conditions for taking water decided under section 75 ; and
(iv) the daily volumetric limits decided under section 73 ; and
(v) the annual volumetric limits decided under section 74 or 87 ; and
(vi) the impact on authorisations to take water in the plan area; and
(vii) for rules relating to unsupplemented surface water in the bed sands of the Gilbert River between AMTD 317km and AMTD 263km—the water that is available for taking from the bed sands during periods when water ceases to flow over the bed sands.
ch.5-pt.1-div.2 Unallocated water
Unallocated water
Section sec.25
s 25 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 116
Section sec.26
s 26 om 2014 SL No. 142 s 116
sec.27 Projects that may be considered to be of regional significance
sec.27 Projects that may be considered to be of regional significance
The chief executive may consider a particular project to be a project of regional significance for the plan area only if the chief executive considers the project is significant for a region in the plan area, having regard to the following—
the outcomes under chapter 3 ;
the economic or social impact the project will have on the region;
the public interest and the welfare of people in the region;
any other relevant consideration.
(a) the outcomes under chapter 3 ;
(b) the economic or social impact the project will have on the region;
(c) the public interest and the welfare of people in the region;
(d) any other r
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.